So Much To Say, So Little Time

It's one of those days--actually, weeks--when we are definitely trying to take a sip from a fire hose. The question is, "What to focus on?"

-Gov. Mark Sanford's big news about his extramarital affair (we'll get to it tomorrow in Barbershop, but I want to know--is there something in the water)?

-The Metro accident (maybe later if there's more to say about infrastructure, but for now we're just glad our Jasmine, who was on the train, is safe and recovering)?

-Iran? We'll keep looking for unique voices...

-Shaq moving to Cleveland (Go, Lebron!)?

In the end, we decided to stick with our international stories for today, to focus on the places and people who are not necessarily cresting the headlines elsewhere but which we think you want to hear about. To that end, Amnesty International's Secretary General just returned from Zimbabwe. Why do we care? Because a year ago, Zimbabwe was more or less where Iran is now, dealing with disputed elections that the authorities say propped up the regime but which many people on the ground refuse to accept as legitimate. So we decided to call upon her.

Continue reading "So Much To Say, So Little Time" »

Michel Martin

2:37 PM ET | 06-25-2009 | permalink

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Blame The Media?

Supporters of Iranian Presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi hold placards and pictures depicting injured protesters of the recent election results in Iran. BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images

 

One more time, Happy Father's Day, if that applies (and if we didn't catch you last week).

We are still watching the situation in Tehran, as you might imagine. The degree of difficulty has now ratcheted up as the ruling authorities now blame foreign media for fomenting the discord. (So what else is new? This is just like the southern racists blaming "outside agitators" for the civil rights movement. The story never changes does it?) But we will get back into the story as soon as we have something to add that we feel you are not hearing elsewhere.

Until then, we turn to our own national and cultural concerns, and other stories ...

The National Organization for Women held elections over the weekend. It was a hard fought campaign between two aggressive and experienced contenders. We're trying to get a hold of the winner, Terry O'Neill. She's a lawyer and a long time board member and we'd like to hear what she has to say about where she wants to take the organization.

In the meantime, we decided to talk with two writers who have written quite a bit about what women are all about right now -- one is Katherine Spillar, editor-in-chief of Ms. Magazine, and the other is Robin Givhan, the Pulitzer-Prize winning Washington Post fashion editor who has (great for us!) just moved back to D.C. from New York.

Continue reading "Blame The Media?" »

Michel Martin

4:14 PM ET | 06-22-2009 | permalink

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More From Voices You Don't Always Hear

The protests in Iran, health care reform, being a Dad -- we covered it all. But if you only have time for few minutes of great radio, then I'd love for you to listen to our closing segment, where a group of men on our staff (we had a couple holdouts) offered their thoughts on fatherhood.

You will not be disappointed.

And if you have a few more minutes, then you should listen to our opening segment about Iran where we bring you some voices I don't think you often hear. We had both a representative of the Baha'i faith community and a young woman who supports Ahmadinejad -- a voice I think you want to hear because, as we and everybody else has reported, Iran is a very young country and most of the protesters we have seen are young (the way it usually is). But what about those who take a different view? And even though Iran is an overwhelmingly Shia Muslim country, what about those who are not? What role do they play?

I also think you might be interested in how we found those folks to interview, so I am going to turn it over to Jasmine Garsd, one of our segment producers (but don't tell them all our secrets!):

Thanks Michel. Jasmine Garsd, here ...

Today's show exemplifies how social media is really changing the face of journalism. Based on my interviews with Iranian professors, there is no shortage of Ahmadinejad supporters, even here in the U.S. But for obvious reasons, someone who lives in the U.S. and supports Ahmadinejad might not want to publicly discuss politics. So how do you capture that point of view? On Facebook, I found dozens of pro-Ahmadinejad groups and many people willing to talk. I finally got a hold of a pro-Ahmadinejad Chilean man living in Japan, who is friends with the very passionate young lady we interviewed today. Talk about the World Wide Web!

Thanks, Jasmine.

Michel Martin

3:38 PM ET | 06-18-2009 | permalink

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What We're Up To

Soul Power by Sony Pictures Classics opens in theaters on July 10.Sony Pictures Classics

 

Marie Nelson, here ...

I found myself starting off by saying that today is a busy day around here, but then I realized that everyday is a busy one. Michel is on a rare "outing" to screen a documentary with one of our show editors, Jasmine Garsd. The film, Soul Power, focuses on the three-day, Zaire '74 music festival that ran alongside Muhammad Ali and George Foreman's epic "Rumble in the Jungle" fight, and brought together African and African-American music stars. We plan to bring you a conversation with the director and, hopefully, music legend Bill Withers, one of the featured artists in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned.

Now, I am about to engage in very dangerous behavior, counting chickens before they hatch, so I am knocking on wood at this very moment. We are preparing for an important interview with Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who is in Washington as part of an effort to attract international donor support for his country. Tsvangirai is scheduled to talk with Michel right after his meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office, so we plan to tell you more about their discussions.

Getting Tsvangirai to talk with us has proved an amazing challenge over the last several months. One of the last times we were scheduled to have him on the program, during his contest for the presidency, we learned that he had been detained by police. So, keep your fingers crossed and tune in on Monday to see what happens.

Have a great weekend.

Marie Nelson

2:14 PM ET | 06-12-2009 | permalink

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A Toast To Skinny Ties And Shoulder Pads

Luis Clemens, here ...

Today, we kicked off our summer reading series by interviewing Colson Whitehead, who is the author of Sag Harbor. The novel is set in the mid-1980s and mines the pop culture junkyard of that era.

The impassioned discussions in the book about early hip-hop artists Afrika Bambaataa, Kraftwerk and U.T.F.O ring true to memories of my own mid-1980s adolescence. Same with the anguish, anxiety and bafflement produced by the by the New Coke fiasco. The latter is hilariously parodied by Whitehead.

I wonder, though, if the references make sense if you are not one of Colson Whitehead's post-Boomer/pre-Internet contemporaries. For those who were mercifully too young in the 1980s to sport skinny ties or shoulder pads, I've compiled a brief video compilation of a few pop culture figures featured in Sag Harbor:

'Roxanne, Roxanne' by U.T.F.O. (Warning: this song contains some profanity. Listener discretion is advised.)

'Head to Toe' by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five

A CBC News Report About The Launch of 'New Coke'

The theme song for TV's iconic 'Land of the Lost'

'Trans Europe Express' by Kraftwerk

Not mentioned in Whitehead's book is a hit by the band Alphaville. For my money, "Big in Japan" qualifies as the single most excruciating music video from the 1980s.

Enjoy:

Luis Clemens

4:36 PM ET | 05- 6-2009 | permalink

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Swine Flu: Can You Kiss Your Child?

Monika Evstatieva here...

How is everybody? Yesterday, I promised we would have a special interview for you today -- our TMM bloggers. As you might already know, we usually like to bring you the most compelling international news on Thursdays. But here is one story we really wanted you to know about that we could not fit into today's radio program. Our planning editor Luis Clemens will tell you more.

Take it away, Luis...

Last night, Mexican President Felipe Calderon ordered a partial shutdown of the federal government through the end of next week. Only essential services will be provided. Nationwide, schools have been shut down. Thirty-three million students are now spending their time at home. And that made me wonder how the outbreak is impacting the lives of parents with young children. I called up Juan Manuel Ortega who is a political scientist and an executive at Mexico's largest media company, Televisa, to learn how parents in Mexico City are coping with the outbreak.

Take a listen.

Thank you, Luis

I can't imagine how these kids and their parents feel today. Not to mention being unable to kiss your own child....Hopefully, this flu can be stopped as soon as possible.

Blog to you soon.

Monika Evstatieva

1:13 PM ET | 04-30-2009 | permalink

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Pirates, Or No Pirates?

A U.S. flag can be seen on merchant ship "Maersk Alabama" as she sits moored at the Mombasa port on April 12, 2009, a day after arriving in this Kenyan coastal city. Pirates hijacked the ship as it sailed towards the port of Mombasa carrying food aid. The ship's captain, Richard Phillips, was recently rescued by U.S. forces. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images

Our dilemma today: pirates, or no pirates?

Do we follow the story (just because it is instrinsically iteresting)? Or, do we wait to see if there's a unique angle we can add.

I confess I am torn because, on the one hand, I find every aspect of this story compelling -- it reminds us that, although we live in a modern age, many of our ancient inflictions remain. Plus the story has it all: the lawlessless, the human story, the military strategy, the fact that the pirates are now vowing to retaliate (which I find hilarious! Wait a second here, you hold people hostage, but nobody's supposed to fight back? are you kidding me?)

On the other hand, if you have alrady heard it on the morning shows and on cable. What more do you need to hear from us?

Other issues in the works: there are some truly compelling education stories out there. Do we tackle them singly or try to group them together?

More on cities in crisis
We expect to have an interview with the Mayor of Las Vegas Oscar Goodman. What's it like to run a city that's kind of become a symbol for wretched excess.

And later in the week, we're thinking about that story about the Turkish television news anchor who did his commentary in blackface.

If you hadn't heard about it, Here it is:

It's actually a fairly complicated issue of symbolism, and it's strange.

Speaking of commentary, I did not deliver one today. I am sure some of you are grateful, but to those who are not. It was Easter and, because I try to be topical, I almost always prepare it on Sunday. And in order to have uninterrupted time with the family and to focus on the day; I did not.

Michel Martin

2:41 PM ET | 04-13-2009 | permalink

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Never Enough Time

I had to run out yesterday for a screening, in preparation for an interview I am doing later today, so I did not get to say more about the interview with the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

I confess that even the nearly half hour we spent with her, the conversation, airing over two days, did not do justice to her memoir. I have read a very large stack of political memoirs in my time and few of them compare. The candor, the rawness, the willingness to expose her own foibles is quite something, as well as her vivid descriptions of what it was like to be at the center of such massive social upheaval.

Until Johnson Sirleaf was elected in January 2006, Liberia had been led, for the past two decades, by leaders who took power in back-to-back coups. And the story of what that was like on the ground -- and how she managed to keep her wits about her, and her head literally on her shoulders (since many of her colleagues, literally, did not survive the bloodletting) -- is not just a riveting story, but an incredibly instructive one. And there are also really fascinating details about her presidential campaign -- should she campaign in "traditional" dress or western? How should she explain her family? Since she and her ex-husband's family were both so called "indigenous" Africans but who had ancestors who had been "adopted" by the more privileged settler families?

It's just frustrating to me that even with a daily hour-long program, we can't always get everything in that we want to talk about. But then again, I hear my colleague on the NPR program Fresh Air also talked to Madam President (Dave Davies was sitting in for host Terry Gross), so maybe together the two of us got the nut of the story, but I doubt it.

Also, we learned sad news today. David "Pop" Winans, father of CeCe and BeBe and patriarch of the mighty Winans, the first family of Gospel music, has died.

You might remember that CeCe talked about her dad when she visited this program a few months ago.

Our condolences to this talented and special family.

Michel Martin

3:48 PM ET | 04- 9-2009 | permalink

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A Head of State ... In Hiding?

I am running out the door. The various identities -- talk show host, mom, household administrator -- are colliding.

I hope you get a kick out of my interview with the Gov. Gen. of Canada Michaelle Jean. I will tell you that since the beginning of the program she has been on my list of people to interview. She is one of about a dozen women heads of government and heads of state, and those leaders have always been of particular interest. But I have to say I had renewed interest after President Obama's trip to Canada in February when I started getting email from people (maybe you got one) suggesting the US media was somehow "hiding" her from us.

Hiding? A head of state? Well, let's remedy that, shall we?

And the Doha Debates. Wow.

Could you participate in that kind of discussion? Would you? Listen and let us know what you think ...

And we hope you loved Kinky.

Michel Martin

12:50 PM ET | 04- 2-2009 | permalink

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Gandhi's Things

Items once belonging to Mohandas K. Gandhi. Antiquorum auction house

Another follow-up. Yesterday, we reported on fallout stemming from plans to auction items once belonging to Mohandas K. Gandhi. Producing the segment (in step with our goal to locate perspectives as close to the story as possible) was a delicate balancing act, which involved coordinating logistics that stretched across two continents. And although the radio conversation aired yesterday, fellow TMM producer Arwa Gunja continued to work the story. Alas, I'll let her explain the finishing touch ...

Thanks, Lee. Arwa Gunja, here.

A couple of days ago on the program, we talked with Robert Maron. He's the chairman of a New York auction house, where Gandhi's personal possessions are up for bid next week. It's created an outcry for some Indians because Mohandas K. Gandhi is the hero of the country's independence movement. He stood firmly against capitalism and owned very few possessions throughout his life.

Originally, I hoped we could have a conversation with both Maron and Dr. Varsha Das, the director of the National Gandhi Museum in New Delhi, to give the Indian point of view. But, because of 13.5-hour time difference between California (where Maron is based) and New Delhi, it was too difficult to bring the two together in the same conversation. As a workaround, we spoke to Varsha Das separately and later asked Maron to listen to her comments and offer response, which you heard on yesterday's show.

We wanted to allow Vas the opportunity to hear and respond to yesterday's chat (since the conversation featured her perspective). We spoke with her off-air today, and wanted to share the following thoughts:

I feel a little better to learn that Robert is sympathetic towards us. However, we cannot compare the functions of an auction house and a Gandhi museum. Gandhi for us is not just a character from history. He will always remain a contemporary. Gandhiji collected funds or allowed things to be auctioned to support the organization that worked for the upliftment of the poorest of the poor, for untouchables. He did not give charity to individuals. And when he left South Africa in 1940, he left behind all the gifts that he and his wife had received. That included heavy gold ornaments, diamonds, etc. He created a trust for the welfare of the masses and that trust is still functional. He did not keep money collected through fundraising activities either for himself or even for the ashrams. So I hope whoever buys these items will use them to bring people closer to Gandhi in values, and whoever receives the money will use it to further Gandhiji's work.

You can listen to the audio, here:

Thanks, Dr. Das.

-- Arwa Gunja

Lee Hill

2:49 PM ET | 02-27-2009 | permalink

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Brian Isn't Leaving South Africa

Korva Coleman, here. I'm sitting in for Michel Martin while she takes some time off.

I've been a Facebook friend of Brian Tristam Williams for some time. Bri, who's South African, lives in Johannesburg, and took an interest in our topic yesterday on South African emigration. I asked him what he thought of the subject, so here's Bri:

Thinking about the South African "Brain Drain," I have to take my history in the country and couple it with the actions of my peers. I'm sure I couldn't come up with a 100% accurate historical record, but in the context of my own life, why do I have a brain that hasn't been drained from the national skill set?

I'm a 35-year-old white male in the movie industry, specifically handling online stuff for a national entertainment company. I've never been out of South Africa. I do, however, live vicariously in the world, via the international media, and NPR is the major part of that. I have no great desire to emigrate, although I do intend to travel. I was considering emigration in around 1997/1998. It had become a fad among my peers.

My interest in emigration declined as South African consumer confidence continued to grow in the early 2000s. Apart from the notorious decline in public safety due to violent crime, there are many opportunities here, and the preceding late-90s "Brain Drain" made a skill-set more valuable right here.

Consensus among people with whom I surround myself, and the local media, seems to be that things were on the upswing in the early 2000s. Emigrants were returning, crime was declining, although very slowly. However, at the end of 2007, President Thabo Mbeki, lost the nomination of his party, to be replaced by Jacob Zuma, around whom considerable political baggage hovers (sex scandal, corruption charges, etc.).

Continue reading "Brian Isn't Leaving South Africa" »

Michel Martin

8:19 AM ET | 02-27-2009 | permalink

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'Tweety Bird' Interviews Obama

Then-presidential hopeful Barack Obama poses with radio host Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo following a chat on the show "Piolin por la Manana." Sotelo recently scored an interview with Obama fresh into his new role as U.S. President. AP

Good Morning. Luis Clemens, here. I'm the Planning Editor for "Tell Me More."

This week "Tweety Bird" interviewed President Barack Obama. For real.

Mr. Obama granted a telephone interview to Eddie Sotelo. He is the Univision radio host who goes by the Spanish-language nickname "Piolin," which translates as Tweety Bird. The Piolin por la Manana morning show is syndicated nationwide and is enormously popular among Latino immigrants.

Not surprisingly, Piolin asked the President about the state of immigration reform. Here's what the President had to say about the issue:

I am very committed to making [comprehensive immigration reform] happen. We are going to be convening [Congressional] leadership on this issue so that we can start getting that legislation drawn up over the next several months.

We found audio of Piolin's complete interview. You can listen below:

This was not Obama's first appearance on the show. Back in August 2007, Obama even went so far as to sing a few lyrics on air from "Mexico Lindo Y Querido" ("My Beloved and Beautiful Mexico"). Check out Obama's singing performance below (immortalized on the Web by CNN):

More on today's other stories from Michel Martin later in the day... Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy today's show!

Luis Clemens

8:27 AM ET | 02-20-2009 | permalink

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Meet 'Ntsika'

Ntsikohlanga Kitsili Lee Hill/NPR

Lee Hill, here ...

Meet Ntsikohlanga Kitsili, a.k.a. "Ntsika". He's a 23-year-old college student in South Africa, visiting the U.S. on a cultural excursion. The TMM crew was glad to have him hang out with us for a few days just before returning home. He's a thoughtful guy with lots of perspective. Ntsika definitely deserves a formal introduction. So, here goes:

Ntsika, what brings you to the U.S., and to Washington, D.C.?

I was invited by D.C.'s St. Columba's Episcopal Church to come over to the U.S. and share my cultural experiences, and also gain journalistic experiences in Washington, D.C., as a journalism student.

Is this your first trip to the States? What is your impression?

Yes, this is my first trip to the States. I think the U.S. (Washington, D.C.) is the most well-planned, beautiful and diverse city I have ever been to. I like its sense of tranquility, and the fact that it is a nice, laid-back city.

You've been here now for two months. Much of your time was spent as a cultural ambassador, of sorts, speaking with school and community groups about your own life experiences and perspectives as a South African. Is there anyone you've met here whose life experience has particularly inspired you?

Ray Suarez, a reporter for (PBS' ) The Newshour. He is well-read, well-traveled and very funny, too. I stayed with him and his family for two weeks and got an opportunity to observe him in his work. He is just an amazing person to watch and also to speak to. We spoke a lot about the work he has done in South Africa as a journalist and his impression of South Africa.

He is a great person and his stories and experiences inspired me to continue seeking for opportunities that will help me to be a good journalist, and to remember that I owe it to my community to speak for them.

You are a journalism student at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. How and when did you become interested in telling the stories of others?

I became interested in journalism in high school, back in 2001. A group of journalism students from Rhodes University came to our high school to help us establish our newsletter. From that experience, I thought journalism would be something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. The other reason: I wanted to be a mouthpiece for the muted, both politically and socially.

A little more than a week ago Barack Obama became the first black President of the United States. South Africa, in ways not so different than this country, has a conflicted history with justice and equality, infamously marked by years of apartheid. Has your visit to the U.S. made you think any differently about the continued fight for equality at home?

Oh, definitely. I was very encouraged to write stories and articles that would challenge the government about the great inequality back home that still exists, especially regarding the education black South Africans receive, compared to that of white South Africans.

What do you think you'll miss most about the States?

Going to the museums in D.C. for free, beautiful sites, food, and nightlife.

... And, the least?

I can't think of anything.

When we first met a few weeks ago, you had a tough time finding recreation and fun, particularly at night, in D.C. People here can be pretty uptight, until they just ... aren't. Curious, what ever came of your "nightlife explorations"? Find any real fun?

I definitely had great fun when I went out with my friends, but it was not the same as going out back home. I was not familiar with the environment, and was very uncomfortable sometimes.

You're on track to graduate soon. What's next?

I hope to come back to the U.S. to do an internship with any media company that will take me. "Plan B" is to continue with my studies. I'm thinking of pursuing a teaching diploma, as I enjoy teaching so much.

Final thoughts?

It was shocking to discover that the U.S. is still confronted with issues being faced by many developing countries. One would never think that a country like America, which has enforced its ideas of democracy in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, still practices customs that do not recognize a human right to life. States like Virginia still carry the [death] sentence. That is just appalling (to me).

I was also astounded and shocked to discover that there are areas here still segregated racially, and that there are areas where the quality of education is so poor. It is scary because education is the most important tool to develop people and a country.

But I definitely feel like things will change for the better. I'm sure the whole world is looking at America with hopeful eyes.

Lee Hill

2:02 PM ET | 02- 4-2009 | permalink

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Web Extra: More On Zimbabwe's Crises

We want to bring you some more issues we tackled this week that we bumped in the wake of the news about Illinois pay-to-play scandal. Tell Me More has been following Zimbabwe's unfolding political and humanitarian crisis throughout the past year (including this interview with Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer). The latest of Zimbabwe's afflictions is a cholera epidemic -- an epidemic that President Robert Mugabe says is now contained. Many advocacy groups think otherwise and fear the outbreak will claim many more than the 800 lives already lost.

Here's an interview with Frank Donoghue, the CEO of Physicians for Human Rights, who explains what cholera is and discusses the extent of the epidemic:

We're working on following up on this story next week.

We are also working on more coverage of these tough economic times. To be honest with you, we had actually already planned to cover the issue of churches and other religious institutions having to lay people off because of tough economic times even before we got our own bad news. We were weighing it against a story about the split in the Anglican Church, and another story about the ongoing issue of how churches view same-sex marriage and civil unions, and what the Scriptural instructions are. We were weighing availability of guests and all that, and that's how it came out.

And, yes we are planning some holiday cheer- we need some! We'll come up with some. And we still need your suggestions about parenting books that made a difference to you. We want to talk more about books next week in our moms segment.

We're also trying to sort ourselves for inauguration coverage. The logistics are no joke. We have to figure out how to get any guests we may want to invite into our studios or offsite locations on a day when millions of extra folks, I mean, uh, welcome guests, are expected to be in town.

Have a good weekend. We're going to nurse our bruised psyches.

Michel Martin

12:59 PM ET | 12-12-2008 | permalink

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More Problems for Zimbabwe

A Zimbabwean family buries a relative who died of cholera in Seke Chitungwiza, near Harare, Zimbabwe.

DESMOND KWANDE/AFP/Getty Images

Sorry to skip past today and move right to tomorrow, but we are working on a number of fronts for tomorrow's program.

Groups of former heads of state and distinguished world citizens, known as The Elders (we've had several members of the group on the program before), issued a major cry for help on behalf of Zimbabwe. In addition to -- and because of -- months of political chaos, the region now suffers from a major cholera epidemic. Former President Jimmy Carter was on NPR's Morning Edition today to talk about this. But there were others who were part of the mission to Zimbabwe, and we are trying to get someone folks who are in position to speak with us.

We're also watching several political stories: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, as Lee Hill mentioned on the blog this morning, has been arrested on corruption charges and Rep. William Jefferson recently lost the Louisiana Congressional seat he held for many terms to Anh Cao, who will become the first Vietnamese American elected to Congress.

And stories about, or informed by, religion continue to interest us, including the move by conservative Anglicans to form a breakaway communion. Also, we're still following the fight over the Proposition 8 ballot initiative outlawing gay marriage in California as it continues to reverberate.

Not saying we will actually have all guests for all of these. We're just trying to figure out how to cover these stories.

Let's not forget about the holidays. We have a great guest for later in the week who will talk about one of the upcoming holiday movies. I'll give you a hint: "To Wong Foo ..."

I bet that doesn't help at all, does it?

HA!

Question for next week's parenting segment, when we'll continue our discussion about parenting books:

Do you have a favorite parenting book or guide? Can you let us know, especially in time to consider it/look it over for the segment?

Michel Martin

4:24 PM ET | 12- 9-2008 | permalink

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Exploring The Aftermath Terrorism

Lee Hill, here ...

If you caught today's broadcast, you heard an extended conversation on the aftermath of the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. TMM producer Arwa Gunja helped shape the focus of that discussion and, herself, has a personal connection to the region. Here's a page from her notebook:

Thanks, Lee ... Arwa Gunja, here.

We hope we delivered.

Thanks, Arwa.

And our condolences to the families of those killed in the attacks, and to the many injured.

Lee Hill

4:36 PM ET | 12- 3-2008 | permalink

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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

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Muslims Hold Out Hope for Obama Embrace

TMM

Whew... It's all in a days work, for real, at Tell Me More. So an extra set of hands aren't idle for long around here -- just ask our intern. Her name is Leila Taha, and she's with us for the fall. You can see how busy she's been with this blog posting. We'll let her tell you more.

Leila (the intern) here....

The more Sen. John McCain's camp accuses Sen. Barack Hussein Obama of "paling around with terrorists," the clearer it becomes to me that this presidential election involves matters bigger than the black-white race issues.

Obama's Muslim ancestry (his Kenyan father was a Muslim) has been used against him by more than one of his opponents throughout the campaign season. Recall, Hillary Clinton made such implications when she said he wasn't a Muslim "as far as I know."

Obama's reaction has been to vehemently debunk the myth. His campaign has repeatedly affirmed that his faith is Christian, and never has been Muslim.

There was some noise in June at an Obama rally in Detroit when two Muslim women wearing headscarves could be seen directly behind the podium where Obama was to speak. But they were asked to move (apparently by an Obama volunteer) for fear they'd end up in the photos.

In post-September 11th America, the stigma of any association with Islam is no surprise, given the climate after the terrorist attacks that day in 2001. And that's especially magnified for a presidential candidate.

But it seemed that Obama acted like being called a Muslim was actually a smear -- as his opponents probably intended it to be. He's rejected invitations to engage Muslim organizations.

I wish instead he would've reached out to American Muslims and set the example: a national political dialogue that includes 7 million American Muslims.

What's interesting is that the Muslim community still by and large supports Obama despite his appearing to intentionally distance himself.

I also wonder, are Muslims just so alienated from the Republican Party after eight years of President Bush, that we'll support any Democrat? Are we just holding out, hoping that if elected, political pressures will subside and President Obama will finally reach out to us?

What do you think?

Michel Martin

5:22 PM ET | 10- 9-2008 | permalink

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Acknowledging the Storm

Lee Hill, here ..

We've been looking forward to bringing you the conversations about the devastation in Haiti, underscored by recent Hurricanes. Residents of the region suffered through not one, but THREE hurricanes in a month's span.

Today, music icon and humanitarian Wyclef Jean -- a native Haitian -- tried to help us fully grasp (impossible) just how bad the situation is there. He said it's like taking the 2005 impact of Hurricane Katrina and multiplying it by one million.

Can you imagine? I can't.

And to add to the distress caused by the storm, there's long been a sentiment that so much of Haiti's plight -- including ongoing issues of poverty and alarming humanitarian grievances -- has been largely underreported by the press.

It's one thing to find yourself in dire straits, but I imagine that it can be profoundly disparaging to realize that no one knows or acknowledges the depth of your suffering, regardless of the nature of the storm.

... It's one reason we try and get it right.

Tomorrow: Fact-checking politics (in light of some who question the latest presidential campaign ads along with GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin's relationship with the truth), the sensitivity of giving to Muslim charities, the Barbershop and ... BackTalk.

Lee Hill

5:49 PM ET | 09-18-2008 | permalink

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Wounds That Linger

A casualty of Kenya's terrorist bomb attack says a prayer at a commemorative plaque in Nairobi on the eighth anniversary of the bomings in Kenya and Tanzania in 2006.

TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images

I'm going to turn it over to producer Douglas Hopper. He's been blogging from Mexico City where he's attending the International AIDS Conference. But before I do ...

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and survivors of the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. Edith Bartley, whose father and brother were among the 12 Americans killed in Nairobi came in to tell us how she is doing. We were also in contact with Ellen Bomer, whose courageous fight to master her loss of sight was the subject of an ABC News "Nightline" program some years ago.

We had hoped to visit with Ellen also, but we didn't catch up with her until it was too late. But it's gratifying to know that she's still so much on the go ten years after suffering such devastating injuries.

We also want to acknowledge the thousands of Kenyan and Tanzanians who were hurt in those attacks, many of whom lost limbs and sight. If anybody wants to doubt the willingness of al-Qaida to kill and maim innocent people, look no further than the thousands of young people who were blown up for the crime of working in a bank or trying to cash a check, or going to secretarial school in a building next door to an American Embassy.

I was there. I got to Nairobi about a day after the bombings, and I remember.

Take it away Douglass. What have you got?

Michel Martin

4:09 PM ET | 08- 7-2008 | permalink

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Dispatch from Mexico

Lee, here...

More from behind-the-scenes and on-the-road with TMM. Fellow show producer (and substitute Web producer) Douglas Hopper is Mexico taking part in an important global event conference.

I'll let him tell you more ...

The world seems smaller than usual right now. I'm sitting in a room with 58 journalists - both broadcast and print - from 48 different countries. We're here in Mexico City to learn from each other about how to tell the story of the HIV/AIDS global epidemic. Next week - after a week of interactive sessions - we'll assemble at Mexico City's Centro Banamex convention hall to cover the International AIDS conference.

--Douglas Hopper

Lee Hill

2:31 PM ET | 07-31-2008 | permalink

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What Is Patriotism?

It's a question that we seem to find ourselves pondering these days. Not because we just celebrated Independence Day, but it's an election year -- an election year where a man with a compelling biography represents the promise of America to many, while contending with a man who represents the best of America's enduring values.

Both men stand for sacrifice and putting others before themselves. Both men stand for standing apart from orthodoxy.

Does patriotism need to be ranked? Is it competitive? Can you score it?

We ask this because a Denver jazz artist named Rene Marie has caused quite a stir with her decision to sing the melody of "The Star-Spangled Banner" with the lyrics of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" -- the so-called Negro (or Black) National Anthem -- at a city event. (She was not paid for it by the way.) From a performance perspective, this was not an easy feat, but the reaction was quite stunning (maybe should not have been surprised).

Marie has gotten more than 1,000 letters and e-mails, much of it deeply hostile. We asked her to tell us what the thinking was behind her decision and she did so this morning.

Whatever you think of her decision, she clearly thought it through. She posted a lengthy statement on her Web site, which you can read here.

I also thought it would be helpful for those of you who are not familiar with the lyrics to "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" to have them.

As she mentioned, the piece was a poem by James Weldon Johnson, written in 1899 and set to music in 1900. Civic organizations, African American churches and HBCU's often closed public meetings with it.

... and I assume you know "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Also, I'm interested to know what you think:

Were you intrigued by the Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell? Caldwell is a close friend of President George W. Bush. He offered the benediction at both inaugurations and he officiated the summer wedding of the President's daughter, Jenna Bush. Yet, he is endorsing and supporting Barack Obama to the point that he has posted a Web site to refute Dr. James Dobson's attacks on Obama.

I want to know your take on the role of religion in the public sphere. We are thinking of this topic for a Faith Matters conversation on Friday. ... So if enough of you want to participate in this conversation, we may organize the whole piece around your comments, questions and interests.

If not (you're still too stuffed with holiday barbecue to think), we understand.

Also, read more of Craim Timberg's important piece on Zimbabwe.

Michel Martin

4:02 PM ET | 07- 7-2008 | permalink

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Freedom and Perceptions that Cross Borders

I am going to act like this is The New Yorker magazine and offer a "combined" blog posting. We will be on the air tomorrow, as per usual, but we are going to disappear for the holiday shortly thereafter.

Our New York team was en route (at least I was) from New York City yesterday when we realized that some of the longest held the hostages in Colombia -- including three Americans, and former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt -- had been freed. I saw a breaking news bulletin on my BlackBerry. Thankfully, our folks here in D.C. were already on the case.

Will you allow me to brag a bit about how one of our staffers, Jasmine Garsd (a native Spanish speaker, from Argentina), jumped in to assist the network's coverage? I heard about this through the grapevine. Apparently, some people were chatting a bit too loudly right near her desk at TMM and she says:

Guys, do you think you could keep it down. I'm talking to the Ambassador.

Take a bow Jaz!

But then, of course, we had to decide what our take on this story would be. We decided we needed to answer some of the key questions folks might have -- being reminded that some folks use our program as their morning news show -- but then we decided to also answer a question we were already thinking about...

By coincidence Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain was in Colombia at the time of the rescue. We wondered, why exactly is he there? To call attention to his differences with rival Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama on trade, obviously.

But how do you decide exactly where to travel when you are campaigning for president?

What's the message? ... The audience?

To talk about that we had Stephen Hess, of the Brookings Institution, who has spent decades thinking about how presidential campaigns are run and how presidents operate. Hess was joined by Jesus Esquivel, of Mexico's Proceso magazine.

John McCain spent the second part of his three-day Latin America tour in Mexico. And Barack Obama announced plans to travel there later this fall. Today, of course, Obama talked about his plans to go to Iraq at some point.

So having said all that, what about when even Hollywood decides to "go" overseas? Our film critic Shawn Edwards does not like too much of what he sees when that happens.

And then, I hope a treat, what happens when technomeets norteno music? The answer: Nortec. It's a group out of Tijuana, Mexico and, well, you just have to listen.

After interviewing Nortec, which I interviewed weeks ago, I worried that I had not pressed hard enough on the issue of the violence along the border, especially that which is associated with the drug trade. Just a day or so after the Nortec interview, there was a story about how the doctors were going on strike to protest the lack of security at the hospital and for them personally. Oddly enough, one of the musicians involved with Nortec is also a doctor.

But then I was reminded of something that award-winning playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda said (he spoke with us earlier this week) in response to critics of his musical In the Heights, about the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York. Miranda points out how some critics find it hard to imagine that there could be two days in which nobody gets shot or stabbed.

Mexico has a proud artistic tradition, in both the so-called fine and folk arts. Could we have one conversation about Mexico were we don't talk about the drug trade?

Still, did I do the right thing by not pressing the issue?

Happy Fourth. Hope you enjoy visiting with Jimmy Smits, as part of our July 4th program, as much as I did.

Michel Martin

6:38 PM ET | 07- 3-2008 | permalink

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From NYC: A Morning with 'The Elders'

Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and member of The Elders, waits to be interviewed this morning on TMM at NPR New York.

Monika Evstatieva, NPR

Michel, here.

Thanks to Marie for writing the blog yesterday.

(HA! Actually, I am not that grateful because, to be honest with you, she owes me since she tried to kill me yesterday. I don't want to, you know, tell all, but I had SIX interviews yesterday. I thought my head might explode off my neck. And, of course, she tells me it's for my own good. Meh!)

I'm going to have to hand off again after a remarkable morning, in which I spoke with both Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the former president of Ireland Mary Robinson, about their work as part of The Elders to call attention to the situation in Zimbabwe. I am off to meet Judith Jamison of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for an interview for tomorrow's program. And then it's off to Yankee Stadium, which is about to be torn down.

What an amazing day.

Michel Martin

1:05 PM ET | 07- 1-2008 | permalink

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Zimbabwe's Political Crisis: What Now?

Today, more of our continuing coverage of the crisis in Zimbabwe with Ambassador Jendayi Frazer, the U.S.'s top envoy in Africa. She is on her way to the Africa Union summit in Egypt.

What role do you think the U.S. can constructively play in a crisis like this? You cannot look at pictures of children -- yes children -- and women being herded onto police trucks for the crime of seeking sanctuary at an opposition meetinghouse and NOT be moved to anger or frustration.

But then what?

What should the U.S. do?

Do you think the lack of democratic process in Zimbabwe should be a concern of the U.S.? ... Of the UN?

Remember the conversation we had about Myanmar and the debate over whether the misgovernance in the regime's refusal to permit outside aid was so egregious as to require outside intervention? What is the standard?

And, the so-called teen pregnancy pact in Gloucester, Mass. ...

Seventeen girls at Gloucester High School are pregnant -- more than four times the number in the previous school year in the school of 1,200 students.

The principal of the school says he discovered that at least some of the girls decided it would be great to all get pregnant together; now one teen has come forward to say there was no pact, but the reporter says she heard what she heard. And the principal isn't talking anymore.

But the question remains: why are 17 girls, none older than 16, all pregnant in a world in which a pack of condoms costs, what, a few dollars? And can often be had for free.

What's up with that? Does anybody buy the Zoey 101 theory? Celebs make it look easy.

And, finally, the what NOT to say series we are running with DiversityInc Magazine. This month's segment: what not to say to LGBT co-workers. DiversityInc has this hilarious (to me) column on the most offensive compliments. (I can't even bring myself to pick a favorite -- "You don't look gay" or "You speak so well. No one would even know you're black" are up there though)

And no, we're not trying to be grievance merchants, but I would like to know what's the most offensive thing ever said to you in the guise of a compliment?

No matter what your demographic.

Michel Martin

3:21 PM ET | 06-24-2008 | permalink

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People on a Mission

Hi, Cheryl Corley joining you here. Michel Martin will be back tomorrow.

Sometimes it's easy to take our legal system for granted or to find its flaws, but the framework of "presumption of innocence," or having attorneys argue before an open court, is often a model for other countries. Mexico is the latest example. Over the next few years, it will overhaul its ENTIRE judicial system. President Felipe Calderon says the reforms will be a cornerstone of his government's war against organized crime. Mexico City law professor, John Mill Rose Ackerman, joined us to talk about what's in store.

In about a week, we'll know whether the escalating violence in Zimbabwe will hamper the presidential run-off between longtime leader Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. NPR's Ofeiba Quist Arcton says the election may really be in jeopardy.

But there was some hopeful news about Africa on today's show when a couple of youth ambassadors joined us to talk about their plans to travel to the continent.

Let us know how you give, Do you travel abroad to help people in other countries, or contribute to your church, synagogue, mosque?

Giving, of course, is one of the core missions of CARE, the humanitarian organization that fights global poverty. A year ago we talked to Care's president, Dr. Helene Gayle, and Sheila Johnson, owner of WNBA team the Washington Mystics. Johnson, also co-founder of BET, is a major backer of CARE's "I Am Powerful" campaign. Today, they joined us to give us a one-year update. And we also got a chance to learn a bit more about Johnson's documentary, "A Powerful Noise." Take a look at the trailer. The film documents the lives and struggles and victories of some of the women they've met in their travels around the world.

Plus, a conversation today with film director Sarah Gavron and actress Tannishtha Jatterjee. They take listeners inside about their beautiful film, Brick Lane, which is about the life of a Bangladeshi immigrant living in London.

There's, of course, much more to talk about. Michel will be back tomorrow to lead that conversation.

It was great hanging out with you.

-- Cheryl Corley

Michel Martin

3:35 PM ET | 06-19-2008 | permalink

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Telling You More

Hi all. It's Cheryl Corley, sitting in Michel while she takes some time off.

I'm always amazed about the amount of information that gets disseminated everyday and the stories that we don't hear much about.

Two conversations today fit the "don't hear much about" category, and that's why Tell Me More wanted to make sure we had these folks on the air, and more about their work on our Web site.

First, Elouise Cobell, a leader of the Blackfoot Indian tribe in Montana brought us up to date on the lawsuit she filed more than a decade ago. Cobell claims the federal government mismanaged the land leases of more than a half million Indians across the country. She estimates that the government owes Native Americans at least 58 billion dollars. The case is at a critical juncture now in federal court in Washington with a federal judge to soon decide the liability of the U.S.

Second, Fergus Bordewich, the author of Washington: the Making of the American Capital told us all about the wheeling and dealing that went behind the building of Washington, D.C. It's not exactly a secret that slaves actually built the city. But Bordewich unveils the intricacies behind the effort to knock Philadelphia out of the race to become the permanent home of the nation's capitol, while the country's founding fathers worked to protect the institution of slavery.

Also on the show today, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan joined us to talk about his effort to get western countries to stay true to their promise to turn over billions of dollars they've earmarked for aid to Africa. These days, Annan is the chairman of the African Progress Panel and the organization released its first report today.

And, we learned about a photo display called Access to Life profiles the daily life of AIDS victims in Africa and other places around the world. It's a before-and-after photo exhibit -- a display of the hope that comes with the use of antiretroviral drugs.

Finally, what a way to round off a Monday. Check out a bit of the velvet voice of singer Lizz Wright. She talks about the music that get's her going.

That's all for now. Talk to you tomorrow.

-- Cheryl Corley

Michel Martin

1:19 PM ET | 06-16-2008 | permalink

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Mo Ibrahim ... and Memories of a Fallen King

Mo Ibrahim

Getty Images

Lee, here ...

Michel Martin's out in Baltimore on a remote for Monday's show.

In case you didn't hear the interview that aired today with the African-born billionaire Mo Ibrahim, you can still have a listen.

I must say that Ibrahim's likeness, including such a strongly voiced affinity for uncompromised leadership, is not one we come across too often in this business. Unfortunately, we often find ourselves reporting on those whose lives reflect quite the contrary of what Ibrahim is devoted to honoring.

Tomorrow, we'll air the second part of our conversation with the philanthropist. We'll talk more about his foundation, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

Finally, as you know, Friday, April 4th, marks 40 years since the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, if you listened to our radio broadcast, you heard the sounds of a young Dan Rather reading a news bulletin for CBS News announcing King's death. You might have also heard the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy making the announcement to a shocked crowd in Indianapolis, and legendary CNN journalist Bernard Shaw recalling his emotional reaction to the news.

Now, we're asking you to tell us ... where were you when you first learned of the King assassination? Or, how do you remember first being taught (if you weren't alive in 1968 ... like me) about Dr. King and his legacy?

Here's a note we already received from one listener, Janie, recalling how she learned of the assassination in 1968 at the age of 7:

... After I got home from school, I walked by the television and saw the ticker tape moving across the screen. I stopped, so excited because I realized that I had learned enough in school to read it. I sounded out each word and then put it all together. Like frigid water in the face, the collective words took my breath away -- I didn't feel that kind of shock again until the year 2001. ...

So tell us your story. We've already heard from folks who were overseas ... in Iran, and Jerusalem even.

Lee Hill

4:39 PM ET | 04- 2-2008 | permalink

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Hello Monday

Goodbye to March. Goodbye, for now, to Women's History Month (although we won't stop following women who make history, we promise ... even if it happens in May). Goodbye to winter, hello to spring. Goodbye (almost) to basketball, hello baseball.

I mentioned on Friday that we are tracking the controversy over Fitna, the film by Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders that some are calling a provocative stance for free speech, and others a gratuitous insult to Islam and Muslims around the world. We followed reaction to the film over the weekend and found there to be very little. We're still following and debating.

We note that Morning Edition covered the controversy Friday morning with an interview with the Dutch Ambassador to the U.S.

... But, obviously, we would do this differently. We've been thinking about a journalists' conversation on whether to air, or not to air this film. But we're still not sure if it's all a tempest in a teapot -- deliberate provocation designed just to hurt or offend, and/or legitimate news. Still debating.

And, in our weekly visit to the pages of the Washington Post Magazine, we talked about travel. I am not going to use the word "exotic" to describe the travel highlights because anything's "exotic" if it's new to you, right?

Check it out for yourself.

And, just in time for our last day of Women's History Month, a new book in timeline form about some of the many women who had an impact on U.S. history -- everybody from diplomats to native American scholars, to confederate spies to formerly enslaved Africans who fought for freedom (their own and others'). Plus, learn about scientists and artists. The book is very readable and runs the gamut. Madeleine Albright wrote the forward to the book.

And special bonus: if you want to know how Albright gets her groove on, we can tell you.

Onward ...

Michel Martin

4:49 PM ET | 03-31-2008 | permalink

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International Switcheroo

Normally, we like to focus on international news on Thursdays, but yesterday we shifted the top of the program's focus to the fallout from New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's alleged involvement in a prostitution ring.

Since Spitzer resigned on Wednesday, two days after the big story broke, we really felt we had to go there. We had on two big names from New York -- former New York City Mayor David Dinkins and the State Sen. Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, a Democrat -- to tell us about Spitzer's successor former Lt. Gov. David Paterson. He is, as you of course know by now, not only the first African American governor of the state, but also only the third African American governor in the U.S. since Reconstruction. Paterson is also legally blind, and part of one of New York's most prominent African American political families. He, apparently, has a wicked sense of humor, and unlike Spitzer, he's extremely well liked by his now former colleagues in the legislature. It's no small feat in the ongoing going barroom brawl that is state politics in New York.

Which of Paterson's attributes will help him? ... Which will hurt him?

Which will most shape the next three years?

Can't wait to see. It's a fascinating story.

Anyway, that's why today, instead of doing our regular Friday political chat, we brought you the conversation we originally planned for yesterday -- about the diplomatic crisis sparked by a cross border incursion by Columbia into Ecuador. Columbian forces located a FARC encampment (FARC being the anti-government rebels who've tried to topple a generation of Columbian governments ... the U.S. considers FARC a terrorist group).

So excited to have Juan Forero back with us. He covers the Andes for NPR and we haven't had him on our air since our podcast days (Remember when? Sniff!). And, a new voice for us Cynthia Arnson of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Thanks.

We were also excited about having two leading voices in evangelicalism to talk about faith and politics. It was a provocative conversation from the authors of two new books -- Personal Faith, Public Policy and The Great Awakening -- that aim to revisit the role evangelicals should play in politics

And the Barbershop guys, what can I say?

As for me, I am still rebelling against the fashionistas! As much as I loved Agnes Cammock of Essence and Najwa Moses of Styleaholics (from yesterday's spring fashion conversation), I woke up this morning with the adolescent need to rebel against their STRONG admonition against capris and the color peach.

In their honor, I am wearing both capris AND peach today (I am cold, but I think I am cute).

Fight the power!

Have a great weekend.

Michel Martin

4:58 PM ET | 03-14-2008 | permalink

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A Look at Mauritania

Our foreign desk e-mailed a week or so ago to say there were some visitors coming to town. They asked if we would like to meet them. They had been working in Mauritania on political reconciliation efforts there. We did a little reporting and said, yes, we would.

(My only connection to Mauritania had been a friend, a former Peace Corp volunteer, who brought back some of the loveliest brilliantly colored tie-dyed cloth. That, and the campaign of forced expulsions by former President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya, who had seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled with a heavy fist for the next 20 years.)

This is a story we have seen many times throughout history -- a group decided, for whatever reason, to expel fellow citizens; those they consider the "other," or rivals, for power or resources. But unusually, in the case of Mauritania, a new regime has tried to reverse that trend.

Independent candidate Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. One of the goals of his administration is to overcome the legacy of past ethnic divisions, including the forced banishment of tens of thousands of so-called Afro-Mauritanians and the continuation of the tradition of enslavement. This is a story I don't think we have heard a great deal about, and in the context of so many recent clashes over ethnic division, I think an important one.

There are a number of other international stories that caught our eye today.

And ...

Sorry, we can't help ourselves, FASHION. You know you want to know the latest styles. You know you do, ok? The great thing about radio: no one needs to see you listen. So it's okay to be interested in hearing a conversation about fashion.

Key tip for the day: boat shoes.

Ladies, we have you covered next week. I promise.

Michel Martin

5:21 PM ET | 03- 6-2008 | permalink

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Some Dream of Comfort, Some for Freedom

A Raisin in the Sun producer Neil Meron (far left) and director Kenny Leon (third from right) stand with actors Sanaa Lathan (from left), Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald and John Stamos.

Getty Images

"What happens to a dream deferred?"

Do kids still memorize that poem?

I know I did. I know that I could recite it at the age of, I don't know, nine or so. We didn't have MLK day when I was growing up. Reciting poems was the kind of thing that your church or Girl Scouts might have you do. There might be an essay contest, or something. You might win a savings bond (remember those?) for the best essay on what it all meant.

As I think back on it, how could we have known what that poem meant? But in other ways, we knew all too well.

Speaking of Girl Scouts, I was at a Girl Scouts meeting (Brownie troop) the night the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was killed. I remember that all the mothers swooped in to collect us from whatever we were doing that day -- macaroni art or some such. Our troop met at the community room in the apartment house across the boulevard from where we lived, and although the mothers came flying in with an urgency, that made it a bit frightening. I do remember that most stayed around for some time that night murmuring to each other in low, angry and tearful voices. We knew better than to ask what they were talking about (grown folks' business), but we all knew it was serious and we'd know soon enough.

The riots came soon. My father, a firefighter, did not come home for many days. I remember he told us to keep water jars filled in case the water pressure fell either from the water needed to fight the fires, or the electricity going in and out. We couldn't visit our friends. We stayed inside. I don't remember it happening to any schools, but I do remember a small supermarket near our house being burned. I don't remember who owned it or why it was burned, I do remember it was one that my mother hated to shop in because the food was of poor quality and overpriced. And she thought the people who worked there were rude.

That may be why "A Raisin in the Sun," the play that takes its name from the Langston Hughes poem I quoted above, still makes sense to me, even though it was written by Lorraine Hansberry in 1955, first staged in 1959 and made a movie in 1961. A new adaptation premieres tonight on ABC. It's a made-for-television version of the revised Broadway play that starred Sean Combs (entertainment mogul ... if you've been living on Mars and don't know ... aka Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy and Diddy), Audra McDonald, and Phylicia Rashad. Lorraine Hansberry was the first African American woman to have a play produced on Broadway; Phylicia Rashad continued the history when she became the first African American woman to win a Tony Award (Best Actress) for her role as Lena Younger, the matriarch of the family, whose insurance check is coming with hopes that it will change their lives.

Dreams. We all have them. Some of us dream of comfort, some for freedom, some for understanding.

We talked about dreams last week in our conversation about Kosovo independence. We featured three young Kosovar Albanians who talked about their happiness at Kosovo's declaration of Independence. We promised you additional perspectives. Today, we featured a roundtable of young Serbs studying and working in the U.S., who offered their perspective. Needless to say, it was a very different perspective. One of loss ... and resentment at being misunderstood. I should mention that Obrad Kesic, one of our guests, is a well-known policy analyst. You will probably hear from him again as this situation unfolds, but we also believe the student perspective is an important one and we hope to bring it to you whenever possible.

Finally, change is coming to Cuba ... or not ...

Continue reading "Some Dream of Comfort, Some for Freedom" »

Michel Martin

5:58 PM ET | 02-25-2008 | permalink

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Living the Story ...

Three Kosovar-Albanians living in the U.S. -- Artan Ajazaj (l-r), Edona Pacarada and Alban Pruthi -- talked to the program about Kosovo's recent independence from Serbia.

Lee Hill, NPR

In keeping with our focus on international news on Thursdays -- but doing it TMM style -- we wanted to follow up on two major international stories today. But, we wanted to get away from the "experts." We believe in expertise, we believe in earned authority -- folks who've taken the time to master a subject and put careful thought and attention into it -- but we also believe that we are all experts on our own lives. And so, there are times when we just want to visit with people who are living the story, not studying it.

It's why we went back to Gralen Banks in New Orleans this week to ask him how he's dealing with the news that the FEMA-issued trailer he and his family have been living in might be making them all sick. And it's why, today, we went to two academics who live in Pakistan who were part of street protests against Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule ... and it's why we went to the three young Kosovar-Albanians who are studying here in the U.S. to get their take on Kosovo's move toward independence this week. Are they big names you'd know from The New York Times? No, they aren't. But they are experts on their own lives.

In this historic moment for both countries, we appreciate their take on what it feels like, looks like, smells like. We hope you agree, but we also hope if you have other perspectives, you'll share them with us.

We know, for example, that many (maybe most?) Serbs take a different view of Kosovo's move toward independence. We're interested in that perspective also. You can write to us at out blog or call our comment line (202-842-3522) if you want to be a part of that conversation.

And, just in time for the Oscars, it used to be that girls who got "knocked up" often went "away" to deal with their "situations." How did they deal with it? Well, that's exactly why they went away ... to keep from having that conversation.

But times have changed, and many more women who conceive outside of marriage are not hiding that fact, and are, in fact, deciding to keep their babies. ...

Continue reading "Living the Story ... " »

Michel Martin

5:27 PM ET | 02-21-2008 | permalink

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Discussing Leaders Great and Small

Cuban leader Fidel Castro exhales cigar smoke during a March 1985 interview at his presidential palace in Havana. Castro announced today that he will not seek re-election as the country's president.

AP

So, 3 a.m. brings word that Fidel Castro is stepping down as the longest serving head of government in the world, for 50 years.

We thought, who can we wake-up this early to talk to us about this? ... Who will a) be great, b) tell us something interesting c) speak to us again in the future, after we have (as I mentioned) awakened them?

This is what's great about working at NPR -- not only is NPR correspondent Tom Gjelten GREAT anyway, he has just finished a book on modern Cuba and is thoroughly up to speed on the story. As an added bonus, he was AWAKE, COHERENT and willing to come to the studio (and not mad at us for calling him). HOORAY!

Thanks, Tom!

(So this just leads us to let the other guests know that we'll be asking them to standby for a few minutes.)

The other conversations today are updates on issues we've previously covered, like the stop and frisk story ... I know that this is an issue that just gets people's blood boiling. If you are one of those likely to be stopped (let's just say it, a young minority male), chances are, you say this practice is outrageous, intrusive and wrong.

If you are one of those who sees himself as a potential victim -- one of those who may have experienced a bad time in New York or other cities -- you are likely to feel that this is a minor intrusion on civil liberties, and a small price to pay for a safer city.

Who's right? Is there a "right" and "wrong" in this?

Check out the original story we did last December on Leonardo Blair.

Also, the FEMA situation. Tests performed by the CDC found potentially hazardous levels of toxic formaldehyde in FEMA-issued trailers. We decided to check-in on one of our regulars, Gralen Banks. He's living in a trailer next to his destroyed home in New Orleans. We check-in on him from time to time to see how he's doing. His attitude may surprise you...

And, finally, what's it like to be BANISHED?

This is the kind of thing we might play for laughs It sounds like a 1960's TV show or a reality show, but it's not. It's a tragic story of displacement and loss told through a new documentary by Marco Williams. Williams previously did a film called the Two Towns of Jasper. Now, this film tells the story of the African Americans who were literally forced off their land in counties across the country.

It's interesting that the film premieres today. Today is also the "Day of Remembrance," which marks when President Franklin Roosevelt signed the executive order establishing internment camps into which Japanese citizens and non-citizens alike were imprisoned along the coast.

Hidden history but, in a free society, not hidden for long ...

Michel Martin

3:39 PM ET | 02-19-2008 | permalink

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Tomorrow on TMM: Global Conflict

The above illustration shows breach of Gaza-Egyptian border by Palestinian gunmen.

Lindsay Mangum, NPR

Lee, here...

A crazy morning today. Michel Martin was already on the air when we received word that John Edwards would likely bow out of the Democratic race for President. We had to do some fast hustling, thanks to fellow producer Douglas Hopper, to get a reliable source (which turned out to be an advisor to the campaign) on the line to do two things: confirm Edwards' withdrawal and talk to us over on-air about the late breaking decision.

In addition to our coverage of the GOP results from last night's Florida presidential primary, we hope you enjoyed today's political coverage. Talk about running and screaming all over this place. ... But we're glad things worked out.

Tomorrow is Thursday, which is also our day for international news. I can tell you of two stories that we plan to visit tomorrow: the increasingly violent situation in Kenya and the breach of a 7-mile wall dividing the Gaza Strip and Egypt (see map).

Thousands crossed into Egypt in search of food and other supplies after Palestinian gunmen shot through barriers set up after Hamas overtook the Gaza territory in June. We'll touch on this more tomorrow, and tell you about a recent gathering that addressed the role of women in managing global conflict.

More to come...

Lee Hill

4:51 PM ET | 01-30-2008 | permalink

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New: TMM Blog Delivered to Your Inbox!

Lee, here ... New year, new features.

If you take a look at the margin to the right of this blog entry, you'll notice something new -- subscriptions (free, of course) to the Tell Me More blog! The new feature sends an e-mail to subscribers with the latest TMM blog entry posted to the program's Web site.

It's quick and painless. Here's how to sign-up:

1. Enter a valid e-mail address in the text box to the right labeled, "Subscribe to the 'Tell Me More' Blog via E-mail"
2. Click the "Subscribe" button
3. Within moments, you should receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your free subscription

There. You're done!

Also...

Share your thoughts from today's program.

Yesterday, we mentioned that we are following the political clashes in Kenya. One of our conversations today offered analysis on the bloody aftermath of the presidential elections there. The incumbent, Mwai Kibaki, won the presidency. But his victory has been largely overshadowed by the surge of killings in the days since. Of course, we're monitoring any updates.

On a much lighter note, you must listen to Michel Martin debut the coaching she received from auctioneering pro Denise Shearin. She didn't do too bad...

Lee Hill

4:32 PM ET | 01- 3-2008 | permalink

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Debating What to Cover, How to Cover it

So here I was, last night, getting ready to leave, all happy with today's show because we were FINALLY going to talk about some things that have been percolating for a while -- the Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan, the teddy bear story out of Sudan, the story of the rape victim in Saudi Arabia and important new leadership at the World Bank (most Americans only think about the Bank once a year when demonstrators descend to hurl abuse at their annual meeting, but this is an incredibly important institution in the developing world). Plus, more diverting stories ... Edward Ball, who wrote about his discovery of his family's slave-owning past, has a new book. He discovered some locks of his family members' hair and had them tested ... and more on genetic testing with a man who specializes in those of African ancestry.

And what the heck happens? Some guy shoots up a shopping mall in Omaha. YIKES. Of course, my first thought is: how awful. How terrible for the families. Then my second thought is ... what do WE do?

By WE, of course I mean Tell Me More. Do we switch around the show? What do we dump? ... What do we keep? Who can we get/what can we add?

I have to tell you that our first instinct is almost always ... change the show. But then we ask ourselves a second question, what can we uniquely offer? What can we share with you that you will not have heard elsewhere, even in our own newscasts. That is often why you will not find breaking news on the program, other than in the newscasts that begin each program. Our principal is: what can we tell you that you didn't just hear?

Today, though, tested that resolve ... so many great stories -- the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran (the intelligence agencies, as a group, say IRAN is NOT building a nuclear weapon, after all ... a total change from just two years ago), the news from Omaha, a terrible, yet remarkable story out of Detroit (a very young girl is shot six times while trying to shield her mother from a gunman, yet both manage to survive).

What do we change, what do we add?

We decided this morning to take the long view, that the stories we covered are stories with lasting meaning and long-term consequence -- often pushed to the back precisely when more dramatic stories grab the headlines.

We hope we made the right decision. Let us know if you agree...

Michel Martin

6:22 PM ET | 12- 6-2007 | permalink

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Another World-Class Thursday

Kind of slammed today, so this is going to be quick.

Maybe you've noticed this, maybe you haven't ... We program this show a little differently than many of the other daily NPR news programs. We have a number of ongoing regular segments, rather than "just" those that follow the headlines.

I put "just" in quotes because, let me be clear, keeping up on the news is serious business, and we try to do our part to stay on top of breaking news. But since much of what we're trying to do is give you stories and ideas that other people are NOT focusing on, many of our segments are organized around ongoing themes and ideas. It gives us a vehicle to present you with stories that you may NOT already be thinking about and talking about, along with the ones you already are.

That's a long way of saying that you may have noticed that we try to focus on international news on Thursdays.

Why Thursdays?

No particular reason, but lots of reasons. Not sure it matters, but this Thursday is no different. As it happens, there are all sorts of stories breaking out there that we didn't have time to get to -- Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf taking off the uniform, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez's decision to break off ties with Colombia -- all important stuff. But again, we're trying to focus on some things that might NOT be grabbing the top headlines.

...So, the Paris riots. There were serious civil disturbances just two years ago. So why now? ... And why again?

And, the worldwide AIDS epidemic ... Where is progress being made? Where isn' it? Also, a view from a hard hit region that does NOT get the headlines, the Carribbean, right on our doorstep.

Violence in sports. Do you ever look at those soccer riots and go, what the...??? I know I do.

Plus, some music from Coltrane and Monk, on the occasion of a big anniversary.

More later...

Michel Martin

1:30 PM ET | 11-29-2007 | permalink

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Spanning the World in an Hour

So, today ... to Pakistan ... to China ... to India, all through the magic of radio.

We started the program in Pakistan. If you follow international news, you certainly will have heard about Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf's imposition of martial law. The government has suspended the judiciary, locked up thousands of lawyers, university professors and other civil leaders. President Bush has urged Musharraf to step down from his position as leader of the army and the civil government, and to hold elections as scheduled; so far, Musharraf has ignored his international and domestic critics, but has said he will hold elections early next year.

Other NPR programs have offered interviews with the Musharraf government and analysts, but we wanted to know what it is like to be in the middle of the maelstrom. What is it like to be a lawyer, a university professor, a believer in civil society, and to see everything you believe in suspended in the name of civil order? And, how do you choose who to be a part of that story? We did not get into the politics of political parties -- Musharraf vs. Bhutto. We felt that's another story for another time. We will get there...

And, consumer products. When I saw Loretta Tofani's series on the conditions facing Chinese workers I could not stop reading it (pdf).

Loretta is an old friend and colleague from our days at the Washington Post. Her Pulitzer is from a series she wrote chronicling conditions at a local county jail where sexual assaults were routine. Her reputation for detail remains, as you'll see when you read the mountain of statistics and public records she was able to amass even in a country where information is so tightly controlled.

It's another angle on the story about the safety of the products we consume. Plus, hear an update from Wall Street Journal reporter Christopher Conkey on how this issue is playing out domestically.

And to India, (via New York). The incredible filmmaker Mira Nair (rhymes with fire) sat for a talk about the film festival she's involved with there.

To end the show, get your groove on with a preview of the Latin Grammys.

More tomorrow...

Michel Martin

5:25 PM ET | 11- 8-2007 | permalink

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