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It is no secret that every last one of us comes from different walks of life. No matter what trials and tribulations come our way or what groundbreaking dreams instill that grit and exhilaration inside our souls.
Millions of people find it quite easy to relate [and associate] with only those who give them the feeling that they are glancing into a mirror. The cost of this is usually shying away and subconsciously avoiding others who may seem “a little too much” or that orbit on the other end of the spectrum. Humanity has taken a prolonged journey to comprehend that opposites attract. [In the words of Sam Cooke, “It’s been a long time coming”].
As a result, new conversations, innovations, and walks of life are born.
Friday’s (October 25th, 2024) showing of Marie & Rosetta at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre was a vulnerable and intimate depiction of this revelation. Beyond the physical attributes of these characters, lived “culture” creates a divergence in how they differ in society. So you may be asking, “Now girl how are these two black women completely different from one another?”. Well, honey find a cozy seat while you’re on the clock because the words complex and the phrase, ahead-of-its-time, are just the beginning. This may take a minute.
Did you know that the gorgeous and bold men behind the origin of Rock ‘n’ Roll such as Little Richard, Elvis Presley, and Jimi Hendrix were influenced, captivated, and mesmerized by Sister Rosetta Tharpe before they even started paving the way for the rest of the world themselves? A Black woman born in Arkansas that traveled with her mother to Chicago at age 6 performing as a duo. Her mother Katie would preach into the Chi streets with chilling sermons as Rosetta would close out singing light gospel music. She spoke her mind as if she was Wendy Williams taping Hot Topics, and had no fear of what others thought or would judge her for. Her wardrobe of sequins, furs, and enchanting dresses were just as eye-catching and jaw-dropping as her performances. I almost jumped out of my seat as her hit song, Rock Me, was performed by Bethany Thomas who plays Tharpe, with a commanding aura of musical majesty.
As the curtains open, the confident superstar has just successfully chosen her new protegee who will accompany her on tour. Marie, played by Alexis Roston, presents herself as a young talent who is very innocent, angelic, and on the straight-narrow. Marie is no free spirit [and soon we discover she is not “free” at all]. Through Tharpe’s proding for information about her new talent find, she discovers that Marie is actually a 23-year-old married woman and mother of two who sang in a quartet and constantly thought about how the church viewed her and what others thought of her. Marie never wanted to be the woman the church folk would oohh and ahh about. She would’ve been almost as innocent as Jesus’ mother Mary, but she was caught in that lie within the first few minutes of the production. Not only did Marie downplay her age, but she had a hidden edge to her. She would sneak around the church playing secular music [a scandal of those times] and was a preacher's wife [a preacher she was not too happy with]. This is where the topic of opposites attracting comes full circle.
Rosetta did reveal that Marie’s lies were the reason why she initially chose her to come on tour; as she seemed to contrast Rosetta’s image. Rosetta wanted to re-enter the church circuit as a performer, but her headlining juke joints and supper clubs took her right off of that saintly roster.
This performance becomes alluring when the ladies begin to create a healing yet difficult dialogue amongst one another as the story shares their first night creating their electrifying tour.
Set in a funeral home showroom in the South, this heartwarming yet harsh reality check creates an emotional exchange between the two women. Tharpe begins describing to her wide-eyed protegee that showbiz for Black women during that time was no red carpet walk at the BET Awards [Today’s acts like Latto, Glorilla, and Megan Thee Stallion, with their controversial aesthetics may still feel this way]. Rosetta revealed that music was the only thing that loved her back after she lost her mother. The inventory of husbands, money, and fur coats did not make her heart skip a beat or give her a sense of genuine love. As the night continues, Marie wears her heart on her sleeve and starts revealing her most honest thoughts to Rosetta. This form of intimacy seemed new for Marie. She eventually admitted wanting to leave her husband since he didn’t value her anymore and how she felt she lost herself in the marriage [Divorce? Baby, not in the churchhhhhhhh!].
Controversy is one thing playwright, George Brant, and director E. Faye Butler did not run away from. The topics of divorce, mistreatment of African-American performers in the music industry, and even a hint of homosexuality, regarding a romantic relationship between the two leading ladies were showcased in such an intriguing, yet transparent angle. This lens harnesses the delicacy of truths that are usually avoided in “historical” reenactments. These complexities are exactly what we need to see on the stage, so that we may feel their gravitas in society. The production balanced out with comedic relief, harsh truths, and soul-touching musical numbers. In my opinion, the music and Rosetta’s direct personality united the two into the dynamic duo they became. Once they got over the hurdle of Marie subconsciously judging and trying to change what many used to call “secular ways” Rosetta had and accepted each other for who they were in that moment; magic sparked!
There’s no question that both ladies demanded my attention from the opening act to the closing scene but with much reflection; I found myself in Marie. I connected with how others perceived her. Just as Marie seems innocent and knows nothing of the world to other people; at times I believe that’s how people see me. Once Rosetta began listening to her thoughts, dreams, and experiences, Marie was then displayed as a strong, talented, and daring young woman who just wanted people around her to take her more seriously. However; Marie also trapped herself in the role of a people-pleaser and rule-follower. The majority of her life, just like I, carried times of doing things the “right” way and bending herself in so many different directions to make everyone else’s dreams for her life come to fruition instead of living the life Marie wanted for herself.
Who knew with the right push from her favorite musician that blossomed into a close relationship [nobody ever knew the full details of], that Marie would become a walking memorial for Rosetta after Tharpe passed? Marie started having a free-spirited attitude, speaking her mind without second-guessing herself, and stood on her own name. Not hiding behind a husband, her mentor, her parents, or society’s rules anymore. Many of us, including myself can look into the mirror and see flashes of Marie. Whether it’s her spirit that has others thinking she’s younger, her gentle tone that makes others think she’s holding back something and doesn’t have a voice of her own, or her ability to camouflage herself into the background of any environment and observe that confuses others into thinking her entire being is invisible. For some, it only takes a few months while others need years to find themselves and understand their purpose, but honey a journey is a journey!
Do you think you need a little push into some reflection of your own? Do you want an entertaining history lesson that’ll take you back to the time when two black women owned Rock ‘n’ Roll? Maybe you would like to jam out to some soulful, yet bold music? I want to extend the invite /CW received from the Milwaukee Rep to you. Go check out Marie & Rosetta between now and Dec 15th. This show will give you the laughs, moments of silence, and strength you need to take a deep look into who you are and how everyone and everything else around you affects the trajectory of your lifestyle and where you are headed, family.
Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW
Who are the big dawgz that come to mind when you hear the word technology? Is it Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, the Wright Bros, or Alexander G. Bell? Or maybe it’s not who but what comes to mind? Many think of science labs, China, and the latest iPhone. For technology to consume, intrigue, and play a pivotal role in everyone’s life from Michael J. Fox to Jamie Foxx, why does the industry seem so black & white? What if I told you MKE had it’s very own tech mogul not only making noise in the city but who is also a black woman [whose hair is always laid]?
Nadiyah Johnson. That’s her name!
Although the Marquette University grad’s initial major was international politics; her first love was technology. Johnson has always stood on business when it comes to her goals and vision: to put Wisconsin on the map for changing the way the tech world looks and operates; meaning inclusivity for Black and Brown people. This initiative drove Nadiyah to fall in love with technology. She states, “I fell in love with technology when I saw its potential to transform communities. Growing up, I was always fascinated by how things worked, but it wasn’t until I realized the power of tech to create equitable opportunities and solve real-world problems that I truly fell in love with it.” Johnson’s father introduced her to the versatility and significance of tech when she was young, and her fascination happened quickly. It wasn’t until halfway through college that she realized tech not only solves many problems throughout the world but the industry also has its own challenges; A lack of representation and diversity are on the top of that list.
I had a front-row seat to witness Nadiyah in action at the Equity In Tech event at the University of Wisconsin (October 9th, 2024). No matter if you are as tech savvy as a 10-year-old on TikTok or someone who needs their niece to help them write a text; any and everybody could relate to one another at her event. From the moment I walked in the door, there was a spread of good food, desserts, business pop-ups, and engaging conversation. The event kicked off with keynote speaker Agustin Lopez, Assistant Special Agent for the FBI, sharing both hilarious and jaw-dropping career stories that gave him the strength and motivation to stay in the field and never give up on his dreams or vision for the life of everyday people that make up cities just like ours!
Lopez didn’t just keep my attention, everyone else in the audience were at the edge of their seats with his life story and nerve-wracking career highlights but also by introducing the topic of Artificial Intelligence [AI]. With its function to simplify and perform has excited millions across the board since it seems it’ll make life easier. However; you may hear about AI in convos throughout MKE usually starting with “I’m gonna lose my job to a robot.” or “There’s no real connection with AI.”. The list of issues arising within AI that myself and the rest of Johnson & Lopez’s audience discussed could be considered longer than Hip Hop’s Top 100 rappers. From invasion of privacy, voice-cloning, financial theft, and blurring the lines of what’s real and what’s not; I learned a valuable lesson in that moment. Yes, artificial intelligence will indeed be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to tackling 414’s biggest issues such as food scarcity but it is also will fire up fear and confusion if not used properly and intentionally. I believe the logic and computational science behind it is a genius foundation for a brighter future but it’s also very easy to become dangerous if we all don’t become educated and in the driver's seat of what exactly AI can contribute to all dope cities including MKE. This is why I’m glad Nadiyah introduced exercises that made everyone in attendance go to the drawing board and see how each one of us would utilize AI when it comes to solving problems knocking on our own doors in WI.
Johnson broke the participants into four teams as she lead her hackathon (a collaborative event where a group of people come together to create a prototype or product in a short amount of time). She allowed each of them to utilize AI resources such as ChatGPT to create phone apps, websites, and other solutions to Milwaukee’s biggest issues they could think of. The room felt like a mecca of brown and black people coming together with out-of-this-world ideas and questions to take on any conflict or problem head-on. The room was full of unique and widespread perspectives that deepened the convo even further time and time again. Although the breakout session was supposed to make the event more active and engaging; they did something even better: create the spark in the minds of tech entrepreneurs, business owners, and those in the corporate world to start to apply how they could solve their very own issues in that moment. I’d say it was a success!
The Equity In Tech event raised several questions but one rang in my head loud & clear: what keeps Nadiyah motivated to tackle such a challenging journey to diversity in tech and the economy? Johnson quickly replied, “My motivation stems from the people I serve. Seeing the talent and creativity in underrepresented communities, yet knowing that these individuals often don’t get a fair chance in tech, drives me every day. Hope drives innovation.” One would think the break-out groups or keynote speaker Agustin Lopez speaking on AI-powered fraud was the highlight of last week’s WI Tech Month event but in my opinion, it was Johnson’s empowering remarks about how the ecosystem is evolving into a more optimistic light rather than negative. “Organizations like Milky Way Tech Hub and Latinos in tech have emerged as top leaders in our state-wide ecosystem. The question that we are solving for now is -- how do we sustain and scale this momentum? I envision a future where Milwaukee, and Wisconsin as a whole, becomes a hub for Black tech talent, where underrepresented groups are not just participants but leaders in the industry. We have the potential to set the standard for what an equitable tech ecosystem looks like”. Nadiyah Johnson has made it her mission to continue to stand on business when it comes to showcasing just how bright Wisconsin’s present and future will be once everyone sees their is magic in representation, equal opportunity, and diversity!
Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW
Since the beginning of time, fashion has been utilized for more than one purpose not only in culture but for all individuals as well. You hear everyday how people claim they put that ish on but do they ever dive into why? For many people, clothing serves as a way of expressing who they are without having to say too much, which keeps all eyes on them with a hint of mystery. OOTDs and fashion trends have a deeper meaning to very unique and creative people such as one of the mil’s most talented fashion designers, Rickey Roach. Roach is the CEO of 7even Star Studios, a clothing brand that has a holistic meaning and prioritizes one putting a stellar touch on everything they come into contact with.
Now I know what you’re thinking… why the name 7even Star? Why not stop at 5 Star since that is popularly known as being the ultimate rating of the hottest restaurant, song, place or experience. Rickey stated that the number seven represents completion, rest, hard work has been done, and that much progression has been made in one’s individual journey. It all started with just a thought in high school that was never given any time to reach it’s full potential. “I was always the kid in class who had the entire Jordan outfit from head to toe with the matching shoes on. Always fly and put together.” the ambitious designer shared with us. After taking a year to teach himself how to design and showing his inner circle his work without telling them they were his for honest feedback, 7even Star Studios launched the summer of 2023 and has now been a Shoppable clothing brand in the inner city for over a year!
Determined, confident and ready to move with a sense of urgency is the message Rickey says he wants his brand to represent and share with its members. We live in such a hustle culture where many people either prioritize their goals or look good but never accomplish the balance of both. After reading reviews and browsing the website myself, I couldn’t agree more that 7even Star is the perfect combo of looking good while also being locked in on your mission to becoming the best you. Failure, success, and life lessons are inevitable in life but that doesn’t mean you have to look to’ up while going through it. Milwaukee, go get fly and stay consistent on your journey by shopping our guy Rickey Roach’s unisex brand, https://7evenstarstudios.com/. Comment down below on his latest IG post which fit is your favorite https://www.instagram.com/7evenstarstudios/.
Desriana Gilbert/ Entertainment & Social Journalist for CW
You're invited to experience a spatial art installation created by CopyWrite Magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Lexi S. Brunson. Also, get your copy of Issue 21 Back to Black at the exhibit [where the installation is featured].
Through my professional practices as a writer, researcher, media maker, interior designer, and creative, I have noted that between Space & Place, we find Culture [Big C]. Since Culture is nuanced, it creates an opportunity to reimagine what space is through the multiplicity of mediums, contextualized via identity, locality, and temporality.
I have taken this concept, through a casual practice of interpersonal interviews, observation, and pursuing/inhabiting spaces where cultural dialogue [spoken & unspoken] occurs. By creating a series of “vignettes” that exist [& will exist] in multiple mediums, I share cultural narratives that reflect the internal perspective of the BIPOC community. Not as a monolithic lens but as a note of existence we often assign with diminutive importance. The nostalgia-induced conversations that transpired during installation with staff, visitors, and other people popping by, validated that these places [even when repurposed as art] are truly threads of understanding in a web of misinterpretation WE do not subscribe to.
Sweet Sixteen's, Quinceanera's, and Teen parties 13-19 apply! Your /CW fam is nostalgic for the "Bashes" we had back in the day and understands the need for safe spaces where teens can celebrate. Book your party with us to help your teen celebrate the right way!
Includes:
Event Venue [Valia East at /CW Creative Studios + Shop for 4 hours]
DJ
Security [Mandatory service]
Photography [2 hours onsite + no edit service]
Photographers & Podcaster we are ready for you! Book your sessions at /CW Creative Studios via our online booking portal.
you tired of everyone standing around at the club looking at each other with such boredom and there being nobody on the dance floor? Or maybe you’re over those 5 songs that your replay button hates to see coming. A hidden gem caught our attention last week that’s the answer to both those problems: ‘Quincy Vs. Que” by the laidback yet lively entertainer, AdventuresofQue. No question this is one of the most anticipated albums of the year.
It’s only been 4 months since he served up nothing but heartfelt melodies and voicemails with edgy verses in Loser/Lover 3; but I don’t think the city is ready for the growth in not only his sound but also his lyricism.
No matter your gender or favorite genre of tunes; everyone is going to bump this album from beginning to end. “Quincy Vs Que” makes you feel like you're entering an escape from reality. His cadence and adlibs will have women feeling like the baddest in the room while having men feel on top of the world at any party they step in. He constructed a masterpiece that provides the perfect balance of chill easygoing bops and intergalactic songs that would make even Barack and Michelle Obama jump out of their seats.
I was surprised at how many different voices I heard and to my surprise, they were all coming from AdventuresOfQue. Whether you’re blasting some of my favorites such Uncle Phil, Are You Happy?, Buckle Up or the #1 Single Quincy Vs Que, you’ll definitely feel like the world is in the palm of your hands and confident that each and every single dream you have will come true. Like this post if you believe this upcoming album will save the club scene!
Desriana Gilbert/ Entertainment & Social Journalist for CW
“In West Philadelphia born and raised, on the playground is where I spend most of my days”
“It’s a rare condition in this day and age, to read any good news on the newspaper page”
“Martin, I’m the man”
These are the jingles that must run through your head every once in a blue moon. I’ve heard they give the feelings of nostalgia, comfort and relatability. This is why many corporations, people and communities try their hardest to replicate that sultry and fun 90’s type vibe even though it is extremely difficult. This week I stumbled across a short film that stepped up to the plate when it came to bringing the 90s world and energy to present day!
“Family Groove:” created by the 414’s very own Ria had everyone and their mama in a frenzy when it dropped on IG. As I watched the film, the color scheme is what stuck out off rip. It was a canvas of shades from hershey brown, ruby red, to butterscotch yellow. They made you feel welcomed and as the viewers were right along with the cast inside the film! It caught me off guard that there were no convos but you could still feel when to laugh, jam out to the film, and catch on to what was happening. The infamous dance scene from House Party with one of culture’s famous duos Kid ‘N Play is the closest image I can paint for you all as to what energy will be witnessed from “Family Groove”.
Not only was the short film lighthearted and fun but it also came off real. The set looked the the average crib and not some jazzy Airbnb that Ria could’ve easily chose. A variety of different interpretations can be made but I’m glad it showed our people in a light that hasn’t been flicked on in a while. Every brown and black person’s family life is not always dysfunctional or struggle rather it can be just as witty and fun as the next person’s! From the fashion; styled by ours truly Carlos Vergara Jr, to the choreography and chemistry of the cast; this is a must-see!
Go watch “Family Groove” on Ria’s IG and let us what you think. Here you will see young creatives from Milwaukee enjoying family-friendly fun with one another.
Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW
photos by Michael Brosilow
Humanity has a way of showing us its values.
Our fate lies somewhere between the unknown and the unhinged [what a spectrum]. However, it is usually through reflection, anecdotal and historical, from a distant past to a very near present that we see the repetition of lore and find ourselves questioning the meaning of it all.
Sunday’s [September 22nd, 2024] Milwaukee Chamber Theater’s performance of AN ILIAD, was an emotional display of genius, wrapped in the tradition of Grecian tragedy, smothered in the plight of modernism oblivion to the human condition, and how “WE” got here. Lisa Peterson & Denis O’hare’s interpretation of Homer’s The Iliad translated by Robert Fagles, bares us from the smoke and mirrors of social exchange, grounding us in the power of mono-interpretation storytelling. However, it is N'Jameh Camara (The Poet) and Kellen “Klassik” Abston (The Muse/ Composer) that brought the shores of Troy and the backdrop of the Aegean Sea into reach within the circular “void” of the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.
IT’S GIVING DRAMAAAAAAA!
As N'Jameh drowned herself in a bottle of “spirits” she walks us through the tale of Hector and Achilles, the Trojan War, and the fate of their battle. Her monologue was striking. When & where are we? In the “now” of disruptive political turmoil, or in the “then” of disruptive political turmoil? In the “now” of men policing the body of women or in the “then” of men policing the body of women? In the “now” of socially induced hysteria or. . . It did not matter, N'Jameh as the poet reminded us that these fates could be our own and that we must not shrug lightly at the flaws of man, because we are MAN.
With just a suitcase, a bench, and a few layers of clothing N'Jameh flings her head back and stairs into the eyes of the audience [the people] then rushes to gesture the interactions of warriors, lovers, enemies, friends, and family. She makes us grieve the death of Patroclus, the same way we grieve, the limp bodies of boys found slayed on street corners in rival “hoods”. She makes us speculate Helen [Helen of Troy or Helen of Sparta depending on who you ask] agency in her selection of suitors. Was Helen into Paris or nah? Does Helen even want Menelaus to defend her or does she just like to see men get all hot and bothered over her? [Is killing the highest or lowest form of flattery that can be offered].
All I know is that when N'Jameh reflects on what war this landscape of carnage reminds her of, she list every war that humanity has documented, and my eyes flooded with stinging tears as if the waves had crashed upon me and I was destined to drown.
The mantra of monikers. . .
Peloponnesian War
Crusades
Powhatan War
Mexican-American War
World War I
Arab-Israeli wars
Vietnam War
Israel–Hamas war
. . . It went on and on for what seemed like forever. How could we not see it? How could we not understand that we have failed to protect our species from butchery? How could we not plead for forgiveness when we have all let our egos slaughter our potential for collective peace? N'Jameh wailed in a dialect of pain and her voice carried through the room into some distant pit of sorrow. I have been to many performances, but I have never felt so soul-crushed in viewing the truth.
I am guilty. We all are guilty.
This ability to drag our senses into the thick of it was not an isolated win. Klassik’s arrival into the theater as The Muse allowed for an auditory awakening or a soundtrack to a collective soul cry. His layered vibrations made us hear waves on the battle beach, the clash of metal weapons against armor, and the vastness of hundreds of thousands of ships arriving. His musical composition was boisterous and delicate all at the same time. We needed his contribution, we needed the liquid “spirits” to release this auditory vision for The Poet to relive, what we all must rectify.
AN ILIAD is an experience that humanity needs. It is a scream for repentance in public intimacy. As we find ourselves pinned into battles that may be sanctioned by the Gods [Yours, mine, theirs, ours, or no one's] and ask for conviction in our uncertainty [who deems our deeds good or evil?] We must remember that we are all villains in someone's story.
[& the comedic relief was there. But only enough to make us say “Ohhhh boy we’re screwed.”
I invite you to approach your humanity and experience Milwaukee Chamber Theater’s AN ILIAD, for the sake of us all.
Lexi S. Brunson
Editor-in-Chief /CW
CopyWrite Magazine, Media & Design LLC is a Milwaukee based organization & company that promotes the ever morphing nature of Urban culture.
