Clyde's | SnapShot Press Release

“Do I look hungry?”

The question was rhetorical but I took the bait, blurting out from the darkness of the theater. .

“Yes! You do!”

Hunger exists where there is a void, or need for something more. It is the lack of satiation that we feel [& fill], that urges us to find a means of sustenance. Without it, we are empty, weak, and coercively vulnerable.

Excuse my pepper-jack cheese of linguistics, but Clyde is a hungry B*tch.

Sunday’s [November, 9th, 2024] Milwaukee Chamber Theater’s performance of Clyde’s, showcased the unhinged reality of the people who serve our society. This form of service comes with being a scapegoat for the power structures we call capitalism that demands the use of bread, lettuce, or cheese [those are all words for money, depending on who you are asking] as the means to survive. 

From behind the kitchen door of a truck stop sandwich shop, this staff of “rehabilitated” individuals, shows us through the erudition of Lynn Nottage, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwriter, how hard it can be to do better when surrounded by misery, after being locked away from the world.

Clyde’s is a purgatory-like place, equipped with stainless steel food prep islands, a smokey flap-top grill, and a loud commercial-grade refrigerator [It was real! I could hear the motor kick on and off like we were really in the kitchen. Nice Touch!]. But here there will be no Michelin stars. Instead, it is where Montrellous (Bryant Bentley) carefully crafts aspirations of hopes, one slice of bread at a time. It is where Letitia (N’Jameh Camara) grapples with her value between every piece of cheese and where Jason (Nate Press), repents through sprigs of parsley. It is where Rafael (Justin Huen) grieves over the grease. It is where dreams go to be broken, and souls go when they are desperate to survive. 

This kitchen is a symbolic prison and Clyde [Lachrisa Grandberry] is the overseer, warden, and the Devil herself wrapped in spandex and pleather! Her abuse [mental, emotional, and the bruised back of Rafael proves it to be physical] is a reflection of her self-loathing. As an ex-con, she believes that hiring what she frames as a societal outcast gives her the prerogative to treat her employees like they are less than human [which sadly they are used to]. But it is the way Grandberry postures her raunchy, classless, erotica torture that makes her character so cringe-worthy. To make the crowd love you is beautiful, but to make them despise you is a wicked deed that pulls from the worst parts of humanity, forcing us to wipe crumbs of blissful delusion off our faces. Lachrisa girl, YOU DID THAT!

I found myself rooting for the world's underdog as they spilled their hearts out sharing the stories of how they became incarcerated. Montrellous story offsets the scales of justice, as Bentley’s delivery demands you listen with your chest, and question how much you are willing to sacrifice for the greater good of others. Letitia, tormented my maternal instinct [first when she chopped that lettuce into oblivion], N’Jameh playing up her ability to evoke empathy with her climatic cadence [Stop trying to make me cry now. You already had me with ILLIAD, LOL]. Rafael’s desperate need to prove his love to others is a fatal flaw, and Huen seems to be a master of humility and sensitivity. But Jason. . should we forgive him? The Black woman in me tingled with the, “now you know how it feels” mantra, that is only triggered when “justice” falls on the door of the socially privileged. But Press, made me believe that the internal torture he felt was real. 

Kudos to Director, Dimonte Henning, who did not skirt away from the “nasty” [metephorically and literally]. From the scandalous gestures of Clyde [I mean Rated R and Rated Hillarious] to the transitions of BTS kitchen life between scenes, it was a glimpse into the world we don’t often get to see. 

It also made me crave a sandwich, something serious!

Clyde’s is for those who dare to eat havarti on a butter brioche, with heirloom tomatoes, a slather of cajun-style hot sauce, and a cucumber chutney [See I can make an epic sandwich recipe too. LOL], and dare to call it a “sammich”. In other words, it is the hole in the wall of art we should steep ourselves in because you never know what might send you to Hell, purgatory, and back again. 

Let’s stop judging, and well. . .Do better.

Lexi S. Brunson  | Editor-in-Chief /CW

Are you ready to get IN THE CUT? | A New Behind The Scenes Series Showcasing Unorthodox Media Life

Creative Media life is no joke, but somebody has to do it! Get to know the /CW Fam, from a behind-the-scenes lens of /CW HQ [/CW Creative Studio + Shop]. This TMZ, MTV, on the “porch”, in the “stu” style mash-up of hot takes, out outlandish game planning, creative advocacy, and unorthodox business practices, is a way to show a more intimate glance at the work we do “when nobody is watching”. The hyper-glamorization [fakkkkkkkkeeee] of content creation is a crucial element of the media landscape that we have avoided all too long. Here is an opportunity to do it our way, ten years in the game *wink wink*.

Stay tuned for the opportunity to see the raw and uncut content in our latest project, and invites to drop into the studio for conversations about Art, Fashion, Music, Community, Culture, and so much more. /CW is a collective of real people who experience real-ish on the daily. When it comes to running a business for those who look like us, having ambitious goals, and feeding that creative hunger, you never know what might happen with the /CW Fam. 

Meet The /CW Fam

Lexi S. brunson | owner/Active Editor-IN-CHIEF

CARLOS M. VERGARA | CREATIVE DIRECTOR + OPERATION MANAGER

VEDALE HILL | FACILITIES MANAGER 

IMANI ORTIZ | Specialized Content Journalist + HOST OF THE INTERSECTION PODCAST

PAM WILLIAMS | MEDIA + PRODUCTION

Jamai fisher | shop + studio assistant

Nkenge S. Roberson | In-House Visual Content Creator

Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment and Social Journalist

James Dean | Studio + social media assistant

Keep your eyes on the lookout for bi-weekly episodes on copywritemag.com/in-the-cut [Youtube, Instagram, & Tik Tok] because IN THE CUT is about to turn some stuff up! 

"WI Has All Hands On Deck When It Comes To Tech" | w/ Nadiyah Johnson

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

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF COPYWRITE MAGAZINE ISSUE 21 | BACK TO BLACK

n issue we take a deep dive into the nuances of Black Culture and the rhetoric that it parallels. This is one of the most intimate issues we have ever produced because many of the topics we will discuss have been fostered by conversions that our leadership, /CW Fam [our staff + collaborators], and our friends/family have grappled with in our personal lives. These topics have lived in barbershop debates, under dryers at the hair salon, at the kitchen table at Granny's house, and on the front steps before the age of social media. These are realities that are formed by resistance & resilience, topped with ingenuity and unapologetic joy in being the prototype for authentic exploration for survival [vs. conquest]. These are patterns of existence without erasure.

Featuring: Spill It Card Game, Jonah Denae, Ko-Thi Dance Company, Culture: Between Space & Place

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow - Snap Shot Press Release

ALl Images by jenny plevin

Art has many purposes but it honors its truest form when it reflects the intricacies of reality in its full spectrum. 

Friday’s [ August 9th, 2024] performance of  For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, by Ntozake Shange (1948-2018), directed by Linetta Alexander, championed the creativity of Black Women by pulling at the intimate language of shared “resilience, pain, and triumph”. This modern take on social positioning in a patriarchal society redefines the way sista-hood connotes an unyielding survival that deserves joy and is joy.

Alexander has taken the various “Ladies in [asigned color]” and has allowed them to deliver narratives that enter the soul, swell the eyes, and clench palms until they release with relief, like a group therapy session. How they sashay across the stage, support each other stories, and give room for each actor to breathe is no easy feat. You may know the play, but as much as it serves Shange’s original commentary on oppression in a racist and sexist society, this manifestation confronts the peculiarities of the digital age [smart phones, ring cameras, social media, etc.] that make these realities much more invasive and counter-intuitive to healing. 

The setting is composed of urban Milwaukee [#WeSeeYou Brady St.] with the transientness of pedestrian crossing where we encounter each color dealing in their reflective monologue and sharing their inner thoughts [If yall want to give us that bus shelter when you are done, we would happily accept]. This storytelling in its contemporary choreo-poem form is best supported by Lady in Green's [Brielle Richmond] seductive chair dance, Lady in Blue’s [Tina Nixon] heart-breaking abortion silhouette, and Lady in Red’s [Gabrielle Veronique] symbolic baby blanket drop [The way you stressed me out is unforgivable LOL]. 

However, the balance of youthful vulnerability from Lady in Brown [Selena Mcknight] and Lady in Yellow [Deja Taylor], are reminders that whatever trauma we have endured are not the only memories that should take up space. The confidence of worlds yet concurred and unjaded love [or lust] holds magic. Lady in Purple [Brandy Reed] and Lady in Orange [Tosha Freeman] embrace in the open mic night scene was also a moment of reflective forgiveness. How do we age into our understanding of self? How do we fall victim and villain in a world that does not play fair? We need each other and without giving up all the symbolic and metaphorical gems, I will say, we must do better by each other [so if I have ever harmed you, purposefully or unknowing, I am truly sorry]. 

This artistic collaboration from Shange to Alexander, Alexander to the performing ladies, stage to audience, is a must. These are the narratives we have culturally avoided and thus, the harm continues to generationally impact our experiences. Their dedication to authentic relationship building is seen, their embodiment of their roles is spot on, and their lived experience as women of color is inestimable. This work is clearly ours to do together.

So today I challenge you to start your healing, get your tickets to For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, and see the world in color!

Lexi S. Brunson  | Editor-in-Chief /CW

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Performance Dates: 

August 8 – 12, 15 – 16, 22 – 25 | 7:30pm, Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall, Marcus Center

Help The Black Geek Documentary reach its goal w/ Geekset

RUN IT BACK ONE TIME. WE HAVE AN UPDATE!

Remeber our homies at Geekset Podcast? Yea, you do! Go ahead and watch the interview for a refresher. We will wait. . .

Well they are fundraising for their final stage of the The Black Geek Documentary and in #SupportTheLocal true fashion we want to help them reach their goal by looping you in.

They are looking for:

• Invitations to talk about the documentary on your platform

• Donations to the Kickstarter

• Shares & Post about the Doc on your platform

• Meetings with those interested in investing (For those who are interested)

So do your thang by helping these “Geeks” make history [& don’t forget /CW sent ya]!

/CW

ThriveOn King Ribbon Cutting Celebration | A local inspiration, a national model, and a dream come true

The ribbon cutting at thriveon king

“A local inspiration, a national model, and a dream come true.” - John R. Raymond, Sr., MD

At CopyWrite we respect a BOLD statement and we value an observed truth. So today when John R. Raymond, Sr., President and CEO of MCW, delivered remarks on his perspective of ThriveOn King collaboration, we could only agree that its fruition and active arrival has indeed been an inspiration, a layered blueprint, and a collective dream that has often been deferred. 

We were invited to attend the June 6th, 2024 ribbon cutting ceremony for the ThriveOn King Collaboration development [2153 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. Milwaukee, WI 53212] as a neighbor [/CW Creative Studios + Shop is literally right across the street if you did not already know], Art Review Committee members [because the creative work must speak to US & for US], and community stakeholders [our investment into this community is apart of the collective fabric that turns these SPACES into PLACES]. With those many facets of stewardship as a guiding force for our communal labor, we have been quite critical of the goals and aspirations for the new soul of the old Schuster’s & Gimbels building.

An equitable approach to development must be anchored in reality. What are the issues? Why do they persist? What are viable solutions and the resources needed to sustain them? These are the questions that are never easy to answer. However, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (GMF), the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), and Royal Capital’s “joint vision for Milwaukee '' have created a physical manifestation of what that vision can become. 

“We all share a vision where neighbors are healthy. . .opportunities are equitable. . . a better Milwaukee”, said Ellen M. Gilligan, current President & CEO of Greater Milwaukee Foundation. The idea of a “Better Milwaukee”, can always be neutralized by the historical divide that most tend to harp on as a sign of stagnation in our cities’ complex infrastructure but in the case of the ThriveOn King development, “better” is collaborative truth. Where community is engaged, philanthropy can serve, and that service becomes mutually beneficial in building a place where we all thrive holistically. 

Ken Robertson, Executive VP, CEO & CFO of GMF, also shared his appreciation to his collaborators [including the community] and commitment to the project beyond the near completion of the commercial building component. “We could do better, we could live better . . . projects like this enable us to get there”. The momentum is an absolute must to propel a high-profile partnership into something that retains a positive legacy and lasting impact in the microcosm that is Milwaukee. 

The stipulation of communal progress treads upon counter acts to gentrification and welcomed entry into a community that already holds historical and cultural value. Alderwoman Milele Coggs, made it known in her speech that the site we all were currently inhabiting was not just a happenstance of real estate availability. She listed an FBI facility, the welfare building [even as her familial namesake], and NO studios as other inquired possibilities. “It could have been but we fought against it”, she said. And those possibilities change the trajectory of so much more. 

artist vedale hill /w pops [art installation]

As always when we approach these historical moments of ribbon cutting and “professional hobnobbery”, we report back to our readers as active advocates of the arts, culture, and to local elevation. We watched as Vedale Hill, one of the artists selected for ThriveOn's permanent collection [and an intimate supporter and partner of our work at /CW], created his art installation slated for the historic display windows on the north side of the building. We discussed the importance of having his work be seen as “a cultural relevance of “Play” for the African American Community in Milwaukee. . . These pieces are meant to depict a physical manifestation of hope for young Black kids while elevating this nuance of culture to high art. This notes that while the practice of play may be the dream there are other professional routes that may encapsulate that passion”, as stated in his concept description. 

artist whose art was selected to be a part of thriveon king: vedale hill, Isaic Pulliam, Brad Anthony Bernard, Reynaldo Hernandez

“This is more of a homecoming than an arrival for me. Having this art here at ThriveOn reaches back to why I became an artist in the first place. It's already there. I’m just encapsulating it and reframing it so that our realities are validated not as just historical asides but as impacting proponents of the here & now. How I view myself as an artist is more akin to a diamond cutter than an inventor.  I’m just making a value and beauty association that is already a part of the natural folds of the community I am a part of”, Vedale reminded us.

And these narratives run deep.

/cw on the job | Editor-in-chief Lexi S. Brunson

I am keeping a few subtleties close to my chest to preserve them for future conversations about the ThriveOn King, collaborative community development, and the art that will show who we are on walls that are professed to be a part of generational progress. As I sit in my studio & look out the window I can see the new era of progressive proliferation and I will be keeping a close [and neighborly] eye on how we THRIVE together.

Lexi S. Brunson | Editor-in-Chief /CW

ZenSation by Queen Lifestyle

Wellness is Black Excellence!! How can you tell? Because of ZenSation, that's how! During the last weekend of Black History Month, We Got Flavors and our very own Fashion Editor, Sydnie Beason of Queen Lifestyle, curated this occasion to display our community’s strength and knowledge of health through a holistic lens. The lower level of the North Avenue Market was occupied wall to wall by some of the best that the wellness community has to offer. The atmosphere was so loving and was topped off by the soothing background acoustic cover songs of Tlalok Rodriguez who was centered in the room with his guitar, a perfect choice for the ambiance by the curators. Walking around I saw turmeric soaps and other skincare items from Nakedd Skin Studio by Licensed esthetician CiCe, gemmed up energy cleansing jewelry and oils from Freequensee by JB, and Healing IVY brought teas, beads, and more beads. Queen Lifestyle herself brought in several jars of her own herbal juices. That Fire Cider Tonic? You don’t know spice till you've had that one. Cough where?? 

These ladies were artists of different talents and niches who had found themselves convicted with the responsibility of bringing their skills and resources to the community- to step back from the vanity of it all and bring attention to the actual quality of living which starts with the health of the body, mind, and keeping some smell goods in the house.

 While recovering from my first few sips of that Fire Cider (seriously I was taken aback…in a good way!), I began to gather something after admiring the visual of this excellence; the real truth. This pop up was not only of course a great marketing strategy for the vendors or just a sign that health and wellness is becoming more and more of a conscious consideration amongst our people, but that despite what has been economically decided, healthcare truly is accessible and affordable when we open our minds to where the solution might be. Your remedy for an ailment, an ache, or just needing a kick start of good energy for the day could literally be on your nail tech’s counter or in your stylist’s blender. Your cure for oily or dry skin is a 15min drive away at a local studio spot, not 3-7 business days ahead. Black health and wellness is simply the gift that keeps on giving and it's more within our reach than we think. 

/CW Naomi-Re’a

You are invited to LEGACY NIGHT @ The Milwaukee Chamber Theater | Hosted by CopyWrite Mag

BLACK PEOPLE IT IS TIME TO TAKE UP SPACE!

INFO FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AT MCT

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We invite Black and African American community members to join us for Legacy Night on March 22 at 7:30 pm, a special performance of THE MOUNTAINTOP by Katori Hall hosted by CopyWrite Magazine [THATS US!] dedicated to and celebrating the Black community.

What is Legacy Night?

The intention behind this event is to purposefully create an environment in which a Black audience can experience and discuss this play about a Black leader, created and performed by Black artists, in a space that celebrates the Black Community and centers their perspectives.

Legacy Night is inspired by a similar event created in 2019 by actor and playwright Jeremy O. Harris, where for the first time ever, every seat in Broadway’s Golden Theatre was occupied by Black audience members. We're calling this special performance Legacy Night not only because legacy is one of the major themes within THE MOUNTAINTOP but also to honor and celebrate our Black and African American community and the legacy we hope to create together in Milwaukee. 

What if I'm not Black or African American?

We encourage our non-Black audience members to join us in honoring this initiative by choosing to experience the play at another performance.

We thank you in advance for supporting these artists and MCT as we facilitate an opportunity for a community to come together to enjoy this special event. 

Ticket Options

Legacy Night Tickets are $20 (plus sales tax and box office fees).

Purchase Online

You can purchase tickets online by clicking the button below and using the code LEGACY. You will need to enter the code in the "Promo Code" box at the top right corner of the Broadway Theatre Center ticketing page and click submit before you try to select the date. The Legacy Night performance will not show up until you have submitted code LEGACY.

Donyale Luna | What Does it Mean to be a Black Supermodel | A Fashion Experience by Sydnie Beason /CW Style Editor

Donyale Luna: Breaking Barriers in the Fashion Industry | Until the 1960's, European beauty was acknowledged as the professional standard in the fashion world. That is until Donyale Luna entered the scene becoming the world’s first African American Supermodel, Luna introduced diversity to the industry by presenting her beautifully distinct features as well as her unique outlook on life. She stood up for black women who had not been represented before in fashion and won the world over with her charm.

A Tale of Two Worlds: From Detroit to Europe's Runways Reflecting on her time modeling in Europe, she contrasted it with her upbringing in Detroit, where she felt her looks were not appreciated. Her striking appearance was not lost on everyone, however; Verna Green, a fellow student at Cass Technical, remembered her as unforgettable, yet Luna remained unaware of her beauty. Her fashion sense was simple, opting for black skirts and long-sleeved tops. Sadly, she was ostracized for being different and speaking and looking differently at Cass Technical. Luna recalled, "I grew up realizing I was strange." Despite this, she achieved a significant milestone in 1966 by becoming the first African-American model to grace the cover of British Vogue. She paved the way for young black girls to be authentic in their imagination. She captured the essence of how unique black beauty really is.

Sydnie Beason for /CW

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Like what you see?

check out the BTS for this fashion experience.

Want to hire /CW for your next style or fashion experience? Hit us up at copywrite.mke@gmail.com | Attn: Fashion Department