Signing Off...

It's hard to believe, but commerce is actually bustling in Goma, the provincial capital in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our Gwen Thompkins, who's seven hours ahead of eastern time, cranked up her phone after lunch to talk to us about the busy life there. Before we started recording, we promptly lost our phone connection but were able to get her back, thankfully. Gwen, a born story-teller, described what life can be like as a refugee:

You can get hard hearted if you are carrying all your possessions on your head, you don't know where your children are and you have been separated from all your loved ones.

It doesn't get much clearer than that.

There's a very civil dustup today among Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist William Raspberry, Columbia Law Professor Patricia Williams, and award-winning author and history professor, William Jelani Cobb. Initially, our conversation focused on what personal responsibility Barack Obama might have to African Americans, but we segued to different views of personal and societal responsibilities of and to African Americans. Recently, Mr. Raspberry discussed the topic in a Washington Post column; we hear contrary views today from our other two guests. Like our panelists, not everybody is going to agree with him on this, so make sure you catch Mr. Raspberry's original column here. You can find Prof. Cobb's blog here, and here's a link to the Nation Magazine, where you can find several of Prof. Patricia Williams' columns.

There are a lot of things to be thankful for, including our delightful conversation today with Chef Daniel Young, former personal chef to NBA star Carmelo Anthony (the REAL reason you want to make it in pro sports). We get a different taste of thankfulness from some of our listeners. It's just an appetizer, because there's more to come tomorrow.

And, we loved her so much we had to bring her back. Slam Poet Gayle Danley returns with a holiday poem on gratefulness. Don't forget to check out her work earlier this week, and you'll see why we fell so hard for her.

That's it for me this week -- what a wonderful break from tight deadlines and strict time limits. It's obviously not possible for me during our regular newscasts to spend a long time talking about classical music and poetry or even to make light of scary economic news, such as deflation. But that's the joy of working with Tell Me More. The long-form interviews are the draw for any journalist, and we love that you love them too. We know that asking you to stick with us for a lengthy interview is an investment of your time, and the creative team here at TMM is focused on making every minute worthwhile. (Who knew Alvin Hall enjoyed shopping for handbag sales?)

I'm happy to have been here, and hopeful we'll talk to each other again. Be sure to stick around for tomorrow's program! Michel returns, bringing a wealth of Thanksgiving goodies, including more of your thoughts on gratitude.

-- Korva

Michel Martin

12:33 PM ET | 11-26-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Grandma, What is Deflation?

Korva Coleman here ...

You knew it. Lower prices are just too good to be true. Our regular financial guru, Alvin Hall and NPR's David Kestenbaum spell out the latest bad thing that could happen to us in a slowing economy. It's deflation, and here it is in a nutshell: falling prices, like we're seeing in stores today, make people wait for even lower prices in the future. So nobody buys anything. Retailers drop prices even lower to encourage shoppers. People continue to wait for even lower prices. Nobody buys anything. So retailers drop prices even lower....and nobody buys anything. Stores then go out of business because - nobody buys anything. People who worked in these stores lose their jobs. And then they join the ranks of people who don't buy anything. Ouch.

Our segment today on parenting focuses on grandmothers: I grew up with a grandmother who divided her time between my home and that of a nearby cousin. When she changed houses to stay with each of us children I used to tease her about getting "bed-lag", similar to jet-lag, because it always took her a few days to get comfortable. Many of my friends had some similar kind of arrangement. So I really hadn't thought much of the news that Michelle Obama's mother will accompany the First Family to the White House next year. I've found it interesting to eavesdrop on chatter about whether this is a good thing or a bad thing for the Obamas. I figured it was their thing, and not something that needed attention. Our guests today talk about why it is worth our attention and why kids can benefit.

Finally, Pat Lewis' CD crossed my desk earlier this year and I've been listening to it ever since. It caught my eye because I had my first full time radio job in Tucson, Arizona, the city that the Rillito River flows through. Or used to flow through, before the it mostly dried up. The river is now an arroyo, running only during the summer monsoon season, generally between the Fourth of July and Labor Day. There even used to be a group of dirt buggy drivers called the Rillito River Yacht Club; they met regularly to race along the arid river bottom. Pat's CD is part of a larger environmental and artistic effort in Tucson, to broaden awareness of the danger the Rillito and other southwest rivers face. The website - www.rillitoriverproject.org - is chock full of photos, videos and features Pat's music.

See you tomorrow,
Korva

Douglas Hopper

4:27 PM ET | 11-25-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Blog Notes From Today's Program

Hi. Korva Coleman, here. I'm sitting in the chair for Michel Martin while she takes some time off before the holiday.

Today we discuss what the incoming Obama Administration will need to review when it considers the detainee facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Should detainees stay in the military legal system devised by the Bush Administration, or not? Our guests today suggest we need an alternative legal method. Take a listen and see if you agree. The New York Times editorial pages say our existing federal criminal system is more than sufficient to manage the terrorists. Over the weekend, it published an editorial highlighting recommendations by Human Rights Watch. Take a look.

It was startling to me to come out of a conversation on torture and turn to Slam Poet Gayle Danley who brings her love of words to kids in elementary schools and juvie lockups. We can't seem to leave the topic of detention centers.

I wonder what would happen if we sent Gayle to work with the detainees at Gitmo. I wonder what the detainees would talk to her about. Sheepherding? Darkness? Thugs?

"Run to the school, Run from the thugs, I'm just like you, let this be the day that I say something that's gonna save a life."

I get scared, too, Gayle.

And, what you didn't get to hear after the mics were turned off on our conversation with Dr. Ro, Chef George Stella and Giant Food consumer advisor Andrea Astrachan was the plotting. These guys are really committed to getting the word out about healthy eating. I have no idea what they're up to, only that they want to work some more together. Only Dr. Ro was present with me in the D.C. studio. Andrea was in Boston and George way down in central Florida. There's something ironic about the interviewer leaving the studio so the guests can get down to the real conversation.

Finally, about rapper Q-tip's music selection: I love the Beatles. I am old.

Michel Martin

5:08 PM ET | 11-24-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

TMM's Active Week Covered Lots Of Ground

Sasha Obama, left, Malia Obama and Michelle Obama (pictured in June 2008) face their own unique White House transition, as President-elect Barack Obama works to build his administrative cabinet. Many wonder whether the Obama girls will attend public or private schools during their time in Washington.

Getty Images

William "Bill" Ayers' relationship with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama was repeatedly questioned by Obama's opponents during a tense election season.

AP

The U.S. Department of Justice recently weighed in on a growing online discussion about crime statistics based on race, centered around figures referenced last month by David Duke in a TMM interview.

AP

I think back over this week and the word that pops into my head is INTENSE.

We had conversations about public and private school, and especially what it means for middle class minority parents -- like the Obamas -- to have that choice.

We talked about the role of the auto industry in lifting minorities into the middle class.

We talked about what we expect of Michelle Obama and what we see in her and, naturally, what we see of ourselves in her.

... Intense conversations with former Weather Underground leader William "Bill" Ayers, with filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, with former civil rights attorney-turned Washington, D.C., powerbroker Vernon Jordan, as well as our panel of regulars: Leslie Morgan Steiner, Jolene Ivey, Rebecca Walker, and Anna Perez (who in her other life was former First Lady Barbara Bush's press secretary).

I found my head spinning, especially trying to keep up with all the threads our guests brought to us. I sat up until 1:00 a.m. one night finishing Bill Ayers book, and until 2:00 a.m. a couple nights later reviewing Melvin van Peebles' films.

As we close out this year and think ahead to the next. It all makes me think about that balance between the internal world and the external one, and how one influences the other.

Which matters most?

Writing it down doesn't capture how it felt; the emotion that surfaced, sometimes from surprising quarters. Real life, but concentrated. But these times are bringing out deeply felt experiences. Of course, some people don't want to hear about all that, which is fine. But as I say all the time: just because something does not interest you doesn't mean it has no reason to be heard.

And speaking of what needs to be heard, or what does not ...

Those of you who heard our conversation last month with former Ku Klux Llan leader David Duke may remember that he cited some statistics. The statistics referenced by Duke compared how many white women were raped by black men in the course of a year, versus how many black women were raped by white men. Now, you may ask (as did I) why he doesn't care about how many white women are raped by white men, and how many black women may have been raped by black men.

David Duke is a white supremacist (although he does not think he is). We thought it important to check on his facts, and so we have. We've updated the original Web page for the Duke interview with an audio statement by the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Thanks for your patience.

Michel Martin

3:42 PM ET | 11-21-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

From Today's 'World Roundup'

Lee Hill, here ...

We featured a number of stories from around the globe in today's World Roundup. But one story in particular prompted TMM producer/director Rob Sachs to share from his personal experience. I'll let Rob take it from here.

Thanks, Lee. Rob Sachs, here ...

By placing their stories side by side, its clear that they often have much more in common than they might originally have realized.

Thanks, Rob.

Lee Hill

4:49 PM ET | 11-20-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Mom-In-Chief: How It Really Is

So, now I can tell the truth.

You really want to know how the working mommy thing goes down? Here it is:

I'm supposed to be here at 6:30 a.m. This morning was especially critical since I was asked to do a quick interview on CNN that would be aired live, just about an hour and fifteen minutes before we ourselves go to air (our first broadcast feed is at 9 a.m.).

Normally, I would never even think of stepping out of the building -- not even for a few minutes -- while we were preparing to go to air. I'd fight you over a fire alarm (but I WOULD go, I would, I swear). But through the miracle of technology (and guest scheduling) all of our guests for today's show were actually recorded yesterday or, in one case, a couple of days before (as he was on the way to London). So, we thought, yes, we can. ... Get to CNN and get back here in time to do right by our show.

Why even bother? Well, they wanted to talk to us about yesterday's special collaboration with the online publication The Root, where we talked about Michelle Obama and what it means to be, and have, the first African American First Lady. We had four great guests who published four essays on The Root, and we talked about the essays in our regular MOMS segment.

So we were excited that CNN wanted to talk to me and TMM regular Jolene Ivey about our contributions. Marie Nelson (our executive producer) and I decided it was worth it to twist ourselves into a pretzel a little bit before our own airtime to make the CNN appearance work.

I picked my outfit the night before. I got the last minute hair lecture from Marie ("put some product in there, don't play no games"). I was ready. I was pumped. I was walking out the door, and ...

Both kids came flying out of their rooms, "Waaahhh!"

"Mommy, can you sit with me?"

"Mommy, where's my drink?" "Mommy, my dolly fell behind he bed."

"Waah."

I tried to take the practical way out. "Mommy is going to be late," I said.

Still, "Waah!!!"

I tried to be a diplomat. "Daddy is still in bed," I said. "Go get in bed with him."

Waaah!

So, yes, I caved.

I took off my shoes and went in their room cuddled with them both for a few minutes. Thankfully, my husband heard something going on, so he came stumbling out, did a quick assessment of the situation, set up the distraction, took up the cuddle position ... and I slipped out.

(Thanks, Billy!)

I raced out the door, tried to obey all laws and came careening into NPR. I dropped my bag and looked at my TMM scripts before CNN started burning up my phone to ask, why wasn't I in the car?

I said, "what do you mean?" (I pretended I already was, sorry CNN!)

But then, in a minute, I was in the car, so ...

I made it.

And that's how it really is.

I know it's not pretty, but it all worked out, right?

Michel Martin

1:43 PM ET | 11-19-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Onward and Upward

Lee Hill, here ...

Wrapping up a long day, so this will be quick.

Tomorrow on the program, a name that probably needs very little introduction: William "Bill" Ayers.

Remember, during the presidential election season, an alleged relationship between Ayres and now President-elect Barack Obama was the source of much contention on the campaign trail.

Well, Ayers has something to say about that whole controversy, and how Obama chose to respond.

Finally, a shout out to the New Media Institute. The annual conference is a brainchild of the National Black Programming Consortium, and they're meeting this week here in Washington, D.C., this week. Today, I was honored to speak to the group -- along with NPR's Andy Carvin and Sarah Handel -- during their visit to our NPR studios. The focus: NPR's travels into the world of multimedia journalism.

(To learn more about NPR's "transformation", check out the recent piece in the American Journalism Review.)

Needless to say, I learned a good deal from them.

More to come, so meet us back here tomorrow.

And in the words of Marie Nelson, our executive producer, onward and upward ...

Lee Hill

6:12 PM ET | 11-18-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

A Quick Look At the Week Ahead

It's Monday, just Monday, but I already feel like I am swimming fast to get to the shore. We have an amazing variety of interviews for you this week -- four meditations on what it means to be Michelle Obama, and what Michelle Obama means to us. The collaboration is with The Root, the online publication that chronicles the black zeitgeist. That conversation will be on tomorrow's program.

Also tomorrow, a Wisdom Watch conversation with Washington, D.C., powerbroker Vernon Jordan.

And, voices from Israel and Palestine ...

In acknowledgement and commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, a new book captures 60 voices -- half Israeli, half Palestinian. The the book itself is in English, Arabic and Hebrew. Amazing to look at. Tomorrow, we will have two voices from the book and the author, editor.

And that's not all, but all I have time for now because I have to get to work.

But finally, a programming note. If you listened to our Faith Matters segment Friday, you heard us talk about faith and how it sometimes conflicts with end-of-life care. We focused on the story of Motl Brody, a 12-year-old Jewish boy who suffered a brain tumor, which left him brain dead. He was on life support after doctors concluded they'd unsuccessfully done all they could to save him. His parents opposed any decision to remove him from life support, citing religious convictions. Although without most of his faculties, their son's heart was still beating.

Motl Brody died on Saturday.

For many, this case demands such serious reflection, both religiously and ethically. Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld sent me an e-mail today, and directed me to a recent sermon of his on this subject. I think it's worth sharing ...

Michel Martin

4:33 PM ET | 11-17-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Elections Over, But We're Still Going Full Speed

Happy Friday! I don't mind telling you that it was an emotionally draining week -- not in a bad way, but that's just the truth of it. There is still the carryover effect from last week's election. Some people are still celebrating, and others, well, are trying to sort through the toxic waste dump of recriminations that seem to follow every losing campaign, but seem particularly noxious this time.

It's not just the McCain campaign sniper fire that seems to be directed at Sarah Palin, there's also the lingering angst over Proposition 8 in California, and news that, thank goodness, Thanksgiving is coming.

And speaking of Thanksgiving ...

We want to know, what are you thankful for?

Have you had a Thanksgiving you'll never forget?

Last year, we recorded your observations and sprinkled them throughout our Thanksgiving Day program. They were just the seasoning we needed to make that program special, so we are at it again.

Call, write or blog. We want to hear from you. We especially welcome your calls, because we may want to use these observations on the air. Connect to the TMM comment lineon 202-842-3522. And, please, do remember to leave your name and how to find you if we need to call you back.

Now, get busy (please), have a great weekend and remember that we are grateful to you!

Michel Martin

11:52 AM ET | 11-14-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Measured Craziness ...

A crazy salad of a show today, but you will see there's a method to our madness.

As you probably know, we try to focus on international news on Thursdays in our international briefing. For the next couple of weeks we are going to try making rounds to the embassies to hear what representatives of a number of countries have to say about what they what they hope and expect from an Obama administration. We are plan to focus on Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean; we feel that most major news organizations go to the European capitals first, we want to round out that perspective.

And I was very happy to get that postcard from Kabul. The writer, Gayle Tzemach, has a forthcoming book about women entrepreneurs. Tzemach has been visiting Afghanistan off and on since her days as a student at Harvard Business School. Anyway, Gayle sent me an email when she arrived on her latest trip and just after Election Day she sent us her latest postcard.

We want to hear from you.

We always hoped that our listeners would keep us up to date on their travels. And, yes, we do care about the food and sightseeing, but we're more interested in those nuggets that tell us something about a place, about which we are not hearing anywhere else. It's the reporter's eye, if you want to call it that, but you don't need a title.

Let us know. Keep us in mind the next time you get on a plane somewhere interesting.

And, speaking of listening ...

James Lipton.

Are you one of the 89 million people who watch Bravo's "Inside the Actors Studio"? Do you ever find yourself wondering about the guy behind the blue cards, James Lipton? Well the 200th episode of the program just aired this week, and Lipton is also out with a new memoir, Inside Inside.

I confess, when I learned that he interviews his subjects for three and four, and even five HOURS, I felt kind of deflated. Our 20-minute visit just scratched the surface, and to be honest it does just scratch the surface.

I did my best, check it out. And do watch the anniversary show with Dave Chappelle, if you can.

And what can I say about our girl, PINK???

Michel Martin

5:25 PM ET | 11-13-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

A Long Road Traveled, A Long Road Ahead

Lee Hill, here. Today, I'm happily passing the virtual mic to TMM producer Jasmine Garsd. She produced much of today's program. After twisting her arm a bit (don't worry, in a friendly way), Jasmine agreed to share her behind-the-scenes perspective of today's program. So, Jaz, take it away ...

Thanks, Lee. Jasmine Garsd, here ...

Today's show was a discussion about how far minorities have come in the U.S., yet how much backlash there continues to be.

Our opening conversation was with Tony Asion, executive director of El Pueblo, and Kevin Johnson, Dean of Law at UC-Davis. This conversation gave us a window into how civil rights activists continue to deal with threats against their life. And it's not just activists. As we heard on the show today, hate crimes against Hispanics have been on the rise.

Why do you think this trend, confirmed by the FBI, is happening? And how should it be combated?

We also featured a discussion with John Rogers, an example of how far minorities have come in the U.S. Rogers heads Ariel Investments, the nation's first African-American owned mutual fund. His investment philosophy is grounded in patience, discipline and independent thinking and was recognized this month by the National Council on Economic Education.

Something that struck me about the conversation is what an important role Roger's parents had in making him who he is today. His father encouraged him to become involved in the world of financing. This reminded me of a conversation I had the other night, with a friend of mine who is working at an elementary school in one of Washington, D.C.'s most socio-economically depressed neighborhoods.

My friend's biggest question (she just started at this job): how to instill this type of thinking in young, talented students who come from broken homes, where basic survival trumps school work every day?

And speaking of role models, we visited with Washington Post fashion writer Robin Givhan, hairstylist Anthony Dickey, and historian Catherine Allgor, for a discussion on future First Lady Michelle Obama, her unique style (hey, don't forget to check out our fashion slideshow) and what type of role model she will be.

Overall, what type of impact do you think Michelle Obama will have as First Lady?

-- Jasmine Garsd

Lee Hill

4:48 PM ET | 11-12-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Remembering Our Veterans

Every year around this time I am reminded how little military life and service affects most of us anymore.

Most of the men in my family are veterans. In my father's generation, the generation of WWII and Korea (and in my younger uncle's case, Vietnam), that was the norm. But as we have transitioned to an all-volunteer army, that has become less common. In some communities and families, of course, military service is common. But many people no longer know anyone personally who is serving or has served in uniform.

This isn't to say that there are not other ways to serve the country--I think our diplomats, our Peace Corp volunteers, missionaries, our covert operatives, politicians are all public servants and they all have a role to play in keeping the country safe . But today is the day we set aside to recognize those who have served in this particular way, and it's fitting, I think, as we continue to fight two wars and to confront terrorism, that we acknowledge those who have worn the uniform, and their families.

I also think it's fitting that we had the stories of two very different public servants today:

Madeline Albright, former Secretary of State in the Clinton Administration and former United Nations Ambassador. She's offering her thoughts on what the next President should do, as she puts it, to restore America's reputation abroad. We talked about the new book she has out that expands on those ideas and we talked about it (hint: CLOSE Guantanamo Bay and rejoin the climate emission talks are two of her suggestions).

We also heard from "Buffalo Soldier" Joseph Stephenson (who happens to be the father of our regular parenting panel contributor Jolene Ivey), who talks about serving in the all-segregated army and coming under fire.

To all those who serve, in uniform or out, both here and abroad, we thank you.

Michel Martin

2:05 PM ET | 11-11-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

The Obamas Drop In On The Bushes

President George W. Bush, left, First Lady Laura Bush, Michelle Obama and president-elect Barack Obama stand outside the Diplomatic entrance of the White House on November 10, 2008 in Washington.

TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images

 

Lee Hill, here ...

As I'm posting this entry, President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, are meeting behind closed doors with President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. Although Mr. and Mrs. Bush have both called to congratulate the Obamas on winning the U.S. presidency, this afternoon's face to face meeting is a first since last week's election.

The Obamas' young daughters, Sasha and Malia, are not in attendance.

The meeting is an attempt to show that the presidency should be above partisanship but it also serves as the future commander-in-chief's first major step forward since emerging as the victor in a long and, often, tense race to the White House.

President Bush extended the invitation for today's visit at a press conference on November 5, in which he also congratulated his successor with the following remarks:

It will be a stirring sight to watch President Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their beautiful girls step through the doors of the White House. I know millions of Americans will be overcome with pride at this inspiring moment that so many have awaited so long. I know Senator Obama's beloved mother and grandparents would have been thrilled to watch the child they raised ascend the steps of the Capitol -- and take his oath to uphold the Constitution of the greatest nation on the face of the earth.

So, what are they talking about in there? Earlier today, White House press secretary Dana Perino described the agenda for the visit, during which include Laura Bush will give Michelle Obama a personal tour of the Executive Mansion, as "very private."

We may never know everything that was discussed today. We can live with that.

But, seriously. We all know that this past campaign season wasn't exactly the bipartisan love fest that today's meeting -- judging by the photo above -- might attempt to convey. Remember, Obama's "more of the same" slogan describing his Republican opponent Sen. John McCain --- the "same" being President Bush? And, President Bush, although not surprisingly, supported fellow Republican McCain's presidential bid over Obama's.

The point: the two families are not the best of friends.

Of course, the visit is part of the changing of guard, and has been a tradition for years, but one can't help but wonder if there's any awkwardness in the air during the short visit.

Would you feel awkward during such a "visit" -- as either the host or the guest?

And, what do you think they're talking about, aside from essentials explicitly related to the transition?

The weather?

It's not like they can go and meet the neighbors.

But maybe they really are laughing, hugging and singing "Kumbaya."

Politics, gotta love it.

Lee Hill

3:17 PM ET | 11-10-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Covering History: The Next Steps

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, pictured above with wife Michelle, became the nation's first black president-elect.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images

 

It was an exhausting and exciting week for many people; now the real work begins.

Next week, we are going to keep taking a look at the challenges -- both political AND cultural --facing the next President and his family. We started with Gen. Wesley Clark (ret.) today and we are going to keep it moving.

For example -- the first African-American first lady -- what special challenges does she face? We have several newsmakers lined up, names whom you know.

You won't want to miss a day. Trust me.

Have a good weekend.

Michel Martin

4:43 PM ET | 11- 7-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

A Final Look Back At Election Day ... In Baltimore

Watch TMM's audio slideshow from Election Day in Baltimore

Lee Hill, NPR

Lee Hill, here ..

So, in my blog post on election night, late Tuesday evening, I mentioned that we'd experienced technical challenges with NPR.org, which led to some complications on the production front. Here's even more material from TMM's virtual bag of Election Day goodies. Enjoy!

On Tuesday morning, TMM producers Jennifer Longmire, Argin Hutchins and intern Leila Taha headed north to Baltimore, about a 45-minute drive from our shop here in Washington, D.C.

Here's Jennifer with a last look back at the Election Day scene.

Hey, Lee. What struck me was how determined people were to vote in Baltimore. I saw people in wheelchairs, walkers. I saw people helping others to the polls, doing car pools -- all in an effort to get themselves there, and help others get there, too. They all said the same thing upon exiting, it's my right, and change is upon us. They told us that they take voting seriously, and want to be heard. And just about all of the voters we talked to, seemed to have one thing in common: a strong desire to see Sen. Barack Obama claim victory.

Thanks, Jennifer.

See for yourself. Check out the audio slideshow.

Lee Hill

6:47 PM ET | 11- 6-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

We're Still Taking It All In

I have covered many election nights -- don't want to admit how many -- but it's ALWAYS been exciting to me. And to be honest with you, it does not much matter to me who the candidates have been, at least in a professional sense. You have that tingle of anticipation all day, and then calling your friends and contacts for intel (which is a fancy way to justify gossiping) and then it's down to business in the evening. And then the next morning is a mixture of relief that it's over and sadness that it's over. You're always ragged out and sort of sick from too much caffeine and junk food and too little sleep, buzzed about having an excuse to do what you do and do it intensely, and not having to apologize for being so deep into minutiae of which precincts have reported in Ohio have reported, and what happened in Florida.

The difference this year is that just about EVERYBODY was into it. It wasn't something you had to apologize for or explain; you didn't have to promise to get back to real life when it was all over because, it was EVERYBODY'S real life ... just about.

And that's not the only thing that different. I received this email from a friend:

All the stories from my family's experiences that became my personal constitution began playing across my mind ... I lost it. All the personal feelings I compartmentalized for months, to do my job -- even burden I was taught to carry as a member of the black educated class -- poured out. I felt the vindication for all the humiliation, insanity, personal destruction, death that people bore -- sometimes willingly -- on my behalf, and I felt it in my bones.

Here's another from another friend, saying how she generally goes numb at big moments. That it's kind of her way of protecting her equanimity. And then:

And so, by 8:45 p.m. Tuesday night, when it became clear that by beating John McCain in both Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, Barack Obama was poised to become the first African-American president of the United States, my mind went blank. And then the tears came.

The tears were not only for my father, who died years too early to see this day. My tears were for Fannie Lou Hamer, the great grassroots activist, who endured a brutal beating by a white sheriff in Mississippi in 1963 because she tried to register to vote. For Shirley Chisolm, the black congressman from New York with the gap-toothed smile, who ran for president in 1972. For Jesse Jackson, whose path-breaking runs for the White House first galvanized millions of white voters in support of a black presidential candidate.

My tears were tears of absolute joy -- pride at this amazing accomplishment.

I think I know as well anybody that Barack Obama was not everyone's first, second or third choice for the presidency. Some of that is racist ... let's just get real shall we? Because why else would people be talking about him planting a watermelon patch in the Rose Garden and all that other nonsense. (If you don't believe me, check out Maureen Dowd's column today in The New York Times)

But let's just say that's just a few ignoramuses and that some people just didn't like him, trust him, or think he has what it takes to lead this country at this critical time. That is their perfect right, and we need to respect the right to make critical judgments about such an important position.

But can you let this fireman's daughter, this black girl from Brooklyn have just a minute? Just a minute to acknowledge all those who did give him, and people like him and people like me, a chance? All those who said, yeah, I don't know anybody like you, but I like what you say and stand for, and I'm going to give you a chance?

Can I have just a minute to think about the people who wouldn't rent to my mother and father -- a WWII veteran and a firefighter for the city -- when they first brought my sister home from the hospital and needed more space than they had in their cramped newlywed apartment. Or the little girls who turned their noses up at us when my parents went looking for a house to buy and ran away screaming, "Ewww niggers..."

And can I take just a minute to think of the people who gave me, a little girl from inner-city Brooklyn with a lopsided 'fro and cheap platform shoes, scholarships and opportunities and respect and chances to shine? Can I take a minute to think of the teachers and the scholarship donors and the people from all races and religions and backgrounds who sacrificed and marched or just silently prayed and did the right thing to bring us to this day and time?

It's so hard to take it all in ... because it's all part of it, isn't it?

Can I have a minute?

Michel Martin

2:19 PM ET | 11- 6-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Obama Transition Alert: Emanuel Says Yes To Obama

We're hearing reports that Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) has agreed to become President-elect Obama's White House chief of staff.

More as we know it ...

Lee Hill

12:53 PM ET | 11- 6-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Obama Takes the Night ... Here and Abroad

Lee Hill, here ...

Yesterday was a big day, here in the U.S. and around the world. Here's a snapshot of how it all began, and how TMM witnessed a celebration of history.

Heading to the Polls

It's hard to believe that less than 24 hours ago, folks across the nation were still heading casting their ballots at the polls. Earlier in the day, we did hear reports of people waiting for hours in line, but we're not hearing anything to suggest that it deterred likely voters from participating. In fact, yesterday the country saw a record voter turnout (although voter participation in the Atlanta area reportedly dipped from 2004).

TMM Producers Jennifer Longmire, Argin Hutchins and our intrepid intern Leila Taha headed to Baltimore to scope out the scene there.

Here's Jennifer with her observation:

What struck me, after my own experience, was how people were determined to vote. I saw people in wheelchairs, walkers. I saw people helping others to the polls, doing car pools...all sure that they would get there, and that they would help others do it too. They all said the same thing upon exiting -- 'it's my right, and change is upon us... we take this seriously, and we want to be heard.' Parents brought their kids... and even the kids had their own opinions, and were not shy in telling us about them! Everyone is involved, in some way, and that was wonderful to see.

Baltimore resident Donell Draper, 23, said one of his main concerns is health care. He said ready to see some things done differently.

Donnell Draper

Jennifer Longmire, NPR

 

A Slow but Bustling Start

Meanwhile -- even as the polls were still open here in Washington, DC -- producer Douglas Hopper and I headed to one of DC's social hot spots Busboys and Poets. We knew the place would fill up fast, and that it did! We snagged one of the last tables and settled in for a long night.

Its no secret the crowd at Busboys was all about Obama. And you could sense that camaraderie in the crowd. Douglas went off to capture some images from the night and mingle with the crowd.

What's up, Douglas?

Thanks, Lee. I've been up and around, talking with people in the crowd. You don't have to go far to understand what this night means. Marcus Hedgepeth, 27, one of the servers here at Busboys (by day, he attends the Art Institute of Washington), said he's been inspired by the campaign. Not just as a voter but as an artist. It's his second presidential election.

Marcus Hedgepeth

Douglas Hopper, NPR

 

But there aren't just young students in the crowd. Brenda Finkel, 55, also came out to witness the historic moment. I asked her if she'd ever been so excited about an election. She said the 1972 presidential race -- McGovern v Nixon -- was hot, but this is a different story altogether. Yesterday, she took her 19-year-old son with her to vote. Fighting back tears, she reflected on her own first time voting, and how much has changed. It's safe to say Brenda might not have thought it possible that an African American would have been on the ticket back when she was 19. ...

Brenda Finkel

Douglas Hopper, NPR

 

How did Obama get where to he is in this race? Brenda said its because he made himself an "everyman." Marcus told me it's because people want a sense of community. He doesn't think people saw that desire in Sen. John McCain.

A very enthusiastic crowd here at Busboys. But only one man has the stage. No cheers for McCain here.

A Cautious Crowd

Thanks, Douglas. We also heard throughout the night from fellow TMM producers Jasmine Garsd and Rob Sachs. They spent the evening with GOP supporters in northern Virginia.

As election results poured in, the crowd there wasn't so enthusiastic.

Jasmine, what was the scene?

Hi, Lee. Although billed as a "victory party," the crowd in Dulles, Va., seems more concerned than anything. The majority of the audience is looking silently at the screen as election results come in, some chit chat amongst friends and family members, but its a mostly hesitant mood at this GOP gathering. The apprehension is cut only by a round of applause and cheering when the screen shows leading numbers for McCain in West Virginia.

John Yu, of Silver Spring, Md., showed up to show his support for the Arizona senator. He said he voted for McCain because he believes he has good character.

John Yu

Jasmine Garsd, NPR

 

Another person I met was Alexander Nathan, originally from India. He was on the scene volunteering at a polling booth earlier in the day ... but he's not a citizen. Even though he can't vote, Alexander says he's passionate about the McCain ticket.

Alexander Nathan

Jasmine Garsd, NPR

 

State-By-State Suspense

Thanks, Jasmine.

Back at Busboys the energy was building fast throughout the night. Interestingly, Pennsylvania was one of the first states to be called for Obama. Sen. John McCain spent a lot of time and resources there. No doubt, he was counting on voters there to swing his way. So, Obama supporters gleefully accepted the Pennsylvania win, heavily influenced by a strong showing in Philadelphia.

D.C. voters react to projections that Sen. Barack Obama had won Pennsylvania.

Douglas Hopper, NPR

 

As the night went on and the electoral count seemed to increasingly favor an Obama presidency. Well, as that number went up, crowds began to amass outside where Douglas and I were posted.

Obama Surges to Apparent Victory

Then, a moment that will be forever be etched my mind. As I reported yesterday evening here on the blog, the crowd was filled with emotion as CNN announced it was projecting that Sen. Barack Obama would now become "President-elect Barack Obama," and emerge as winner in the presidential race. A wave of emotion captured everyone in its path.

It was just the beginning of what would become a massive celebration. The night was still young, and for hours to come, people here in D.C., and across the world, moved their celebrations to the streets.

Obama supporters spilled into the streets of Washington, D.C., when they learned that Sen. Barack Obama was approaching victory in the presidential elections.

Douglas Hopper, NPR

 

As the clock ticked well past midnight, the number of folks taking to the streets of D.C. to celebrate -- or merely spectate -- did anything but dwindle.

Lee Hill, NPR

 

... And later in Paris:

Obama supporters in the Champs-Elysees, in Paris, joined in celebrations.

BORIS HORVAT/AFP/Getty Images

 

In India ...

Indian Siddi Tribals hold posters, along with Indian National Flags, in support of Barack Obama's victory as they gather in front of Hazarat Mubarak Nobi (Baba Gaur) Dargah in Ahmedabad.

SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images

 

Don't forget to tell us how you spent election night ... and how you feel about the outcome.

And, as the celebrations eventually fade -- although they still seem to be going strong -- we're also following the latest news on Bush-Obama transition talks. We hear the President-elect is close to announcing who will serve as his Chief of Staff, a position that's reportedly been offered to Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois.

More as we know it ...

Lee Hill

5:15 PM ET | 11- 5-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Eruption Of Emotion As Obama Signals Victory

A crowd watching Election Night results in Washington, D.C., erupts as the possibility of an Obama presidency seemed imminent.

Lee Hill, NPR

 

Lee Hill, here ... blogging live from a D.C.-area Election Night hot spot, where patrons packed themselves in to watch the election results unfold.

A massive eruption of emotion -- all at once -- best describes the reaction here when language flashed across television screens, reporting that Sen. Barack Obama was projected to have grasped the U.S. presidency. CNN announced their projection based on the network's own analysis of election results data.

The multi-ethnic crowd here seems to be mainly comprised of voters under the age of 40, a group which pre-Election Day polling suggested was more supportive of an Obama presidency.

The scene: there is dancing, screaming, crying -- weeping, rather -- as people here celebrate something that, if affirmed by final poll numbers, could signal a new chapter in American society and political culture.

More as we know it.

IMPORTANT NOTE: At the time of this posting, NPR News, producer of Tell Me More, has not projected Obama as winner of the presidency.

(Throughout the evening, the NPR.org Web site experienced a series of technical challenges that prevented us from bringing the more extensive coverage of tonight's election results as originally planned. The issue continues to be investigated on this end. Once resolved, we have every intention on bringing you those perspectives.)

Lee Hill

11:04 PM ET | 11- 4-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Measuring A Massive Impact As Election Results Come In

Michel Martin, here ...

NPR having decided in its infinite wisdom that I need my beauty rest, I am actually watching the returns at home so I can be up bright and early for the program tomorrow.

What can I say?

It's a presidential smack down almost two years in the making. How many debates, how many rallies ... how many town halls have we observed leading up to tonight?

If we counted the number of people who actually attended a political rally this year, do you think we'd reach the population of Houston? How about Los Angeles? New York, even?

It's possible. In my precinct in D.C., I am told that, by 5 p.m. today, we'd reached an 80 percent turnout. As I mentioned in my earlier post, we waited in line to cast a ballot for two and a half hours -- and it was somewhere between church and a party the whole time (fueled by coffee and sugar, it has to be said).

We know from early voting data that African Americans increased their turnout by 20 percentm; from 11 percent of the electorate in 2004 to 13 percent of the group.

But there are still so many questions:

Did young voters come out as they suggested they might? And did first time voters come out?

What did white women do? What did rural voters do? Did Latinos give McCain any love?

Did all the negative campaigning, in the end, make a difference?

So much we won't know until tomorrow, at the earliest. But by the time you hear from me again, we ought to know who our new President is. Let's hope we don't have a repeat of the 2000 drama, when it took three weeks before we figured out who would be living in the White House.

So much emotion poured into this election, and so much money. So many tears, and so much sweat, with no shortage of anger at times ... and the burden of history and hope for the future, added with fear ... is there a better way?

We can think about that tomorrow. But tonight, fasten your seatbelt.

Take it away, Lee. He and the rest of the crack TMM team are BLOGGING THE NIGHT AWAY.

Go for it.

Michel Martin

7:03 PM ET | 11- 4-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Hurry Up And Wait ... To Vote

iStock

We got in line at 7:15, with the vain hope that we'd be able to vote with the kids and still get the kids to school on time.

Not. We were in line for a total of two and a half hours. The line snaked halfway around the elementary school (our polling station).

Still, even with the wait, we felt the kids needed to be there, so going early was worth it.
And, it was great to see all the neighbors. It was an unusual experience for me. I normally vote absentee because I'm usually assigned to work on Election Day and I never wanted to risk missing out. So, a trip to the actual polls with everybody else was a treat for me, too.

... And, speaking of treats, some smart person from the school's PTA group set up a table selling juice and donuts and other snacks to voters.

We emerged victorious just in time to get the kids to school for their "election." They were choosing between dog, cat, and gerbil for best pet.

Can't wait to hear how that comes out.

More later ...

Michel Martin

1:16 PM ET | 11- 4-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail

Election Cycle Almost Over: Not Soon Enough?

Popular hip-hop artist Q-Tip sits for a recent TMM interview at NPR New York. The rapper's new album The Renaissance includes doses of political commentary, fitting for its Election Day release on Nov. 4.

Lee Hill, NPR

Coming down the home stretch!

Are you over it? ... So over it? Or, are you sorry for it all to end?

Or, (and you can tell us) are you not exactly sure how to feel?

We feel you.

We gave you just a little taste of politics today -- your fix -- with Perry Bacon of the Washington Post and our man Ken Rudin, NPR's political editor.

And, Q-Tip! Hey man, where ya been?

The hip-hop icon, one of the former leaders of A Tribe Called Quest, is back with a new CD. It's named, appropriately enough, The Renaissance. If you love hip hop and if you loved "Tribe," or if you're just interested in what one of the most respected figures in the genre has on his mind, you'll want to check it out.

Remember how they used to call hip hop (or rap) the CNN of the streets?

And check this out:

We'll be telling you more on Election Night, Tuesday, November 4th. Tell Me More's team of producers will blog ACTIVELY throughout tomorrow evening, on the ground at social hot spots throughout the Washington region. We'll have virtual updates on the latest returns as they come in, and a glimpse into some of the election night excitement as voters make their final show of support for their candidate of choice.

So, join us on election night. You'll find us here, at the blog ...

And, because we can't get this out of our minds, we wanted to talk about the terrible situation involving the murders of Jennifer Hudson's relatives. A private memorial service was held today in Chicago. We could not help but clue in on the piece Mary Mitchell wrote last week in the Chicago Sun-Times.

But Mary pointed out that one of the through lines along with all the grief about this were actually questions about why the actress' family still lived in the family home? And, yes, it's important to say that no one has been charged in this case, let alone convicted. But there are those who ask, did someone bring evil into the home -- from within?

So we wanted to talk about this with folk who know what they're talking about: Iyanla Vanzant, Dr. Bertice Berry and Mary Mitchell, all of whom have done the hard thing of giving family members a hand when they needed one.

Listen to what they have to say; see where you are in that conversation.

Michel Martin

3:51 PM ET | 11- 3-2008 | permalink

comments () | | e-mail