booktv's recent visit to alabama, we spoke with valerie pope burnes and robin mcdonald about the alabama towns they profile in their book "visions of the blackbelt". >> people are proud to be from the black belt. it is something unique. it is something they consider themselves to be very much a part of themselves. >> the title of the book is "visions of the black belt; a cultural survey of alabama" and we came at the book from separate directions but it worked out well with timing and what we could both bring. the black belt starts in north central mississippi, crosses into alabama around pickins, sumpter and choctaw and then it continues into a crescent shape across the middle of the state, tapers out through montgomery and then it is an ancient seashore that formed 70 million years ago. there is so much chalk the water couldn't filter down. the soil has more iron in it. it is red clay. in the black belt it isn't red because we don't have the iron. it is a rich organic soil. it was great for growing cotton because prior to fertilizers, commercial fertilizer. it fostered the economy prior to t

but he was from ann, and he decided to -- from alabama, and he decided to come back here. he came to a towned marion in the black belt to interview a very well known writer named mary ward brown for a book he was doing on food. you know, the food memories of the you elderly. and he fell in love with marion and bought a house there. he's kind of an example of somebody who came back to the black belt, as it were. and there are lots of interesting farms. there was an organic farm that i photographed, it was a 5,000-acre farm, largest in alabama, i believe, organic farm. and they're raising these piney woods cattle that date back to the spanish. the spanish explorers brought these cows with them when they came to explore for food. you know, they needed them for food and milk probably. and when they left, they just left them behind, and they kind of went wild for a few hundred years. and then they were farmed, i guess, by the early settlers. they were kind of scrawny and small and, you know, they started using the european breeds, and they're now an endangered breed of cattle, and this farm is a

black, cook up a story to make this guy the fall guy that is not very energetic police in the alabama town, buy the story, convict him, send him to jail, he is on death row until the author of the book takes up the case, and after years of effort, exonerates him and shames the prosecutor, the police. this is written some 20 years after the guy is sprung from jail. he has died of dementia, hasn't had a very nice life even after jail. story would be a real page-turner it own right. it's a story well worth telling about how inyateses can happen in our society, but stevenson is not going to leave it there. he takes the story as emblematic of the entire nature of the american justice system the grinds down the poor minorities and provides no real justice except for the occasional savior who -- the book is partly memoir, partly story-telling. it's like the other wes moore, written at best a junior high level. there's a thing called the rating that i referred to before. it's an independent body that examines large chunks of test and assigns a grade reading level to it. the other wes moore and jus

alabama really got going full steam. and, of course, selma is very famous for this. but it was also going on in small towns like marion and greens borrow and union town, all these little towns that dot the black belt region. and the cause of this, because you're living in a small town, you really can't help but see it. in our case we were actually one block, our house was one block from the up to square where the courthouse -- the town square where the courthouse is and then where an african-american church which was kind of home base for the voter registration drive. we actually were in a great place to see the daytime marches, because once people began to attempt to register to vote and were turned away, they started marching around and around the courthouse square. and my dad, being a photographer, he actually took his home movie camera down there and took movies of the marches. so i was aware of that. i didn't really understand what it was all about. it was pretty abstract to me. and then within a few weeks, i'm not sure of the time period of how long the daytime marches occurred, but within a few week

alabama. heavy rain in the mississippi delta caused widespread flooding and prompted evacuations. in the southern town of purvis, high winds toppled trees and are power lines. in the alabama county state line, at least a dozen homes werer damaged. >> they were messing with my carcar all of a sudden my wife called me and said you need to come in, the sirens are going off. i didn't hear them. when we were coming off the shop, there was tin flying off the shop there, and it's more thannive ever seen or been in. >> the crews rescued a 16-year-old after his car was stuck in a ditch. two twisters hit, knocking out power, but no one in the state was hurt. >> that risk of severe weather continues today. let's bring in nicole mitchell. >> yes, we had so many severe storm reports yesterday that they were well over 100 extend to the great lakes. high winds, and in addition to the reports that we saw yesterday and a few more the day before in places like oklahoma. so the problem today, with the front stl lingering through the south, we have concerns, and any more rain, which we'll see some of, will just add to th

alabama. heavy rain caused widespread rain. in the town of purvis high winds toppled trees and powerlines. further north a dozen homes were damaged. >> we were at the shop messing with the car. all of a sudden my wife said "you need to come in, the sirens are going off", i didn't hear them. when we came out of the shop, tin was flying off the top of the shot. nothing i have ever seen or been in. >> crews rescued a 16-year-old after he and his truck was stuck in a ditch. in alabama two hit, leaving thousands without power. no one in the state was high court. that risk of weather continues. let's bring in nicole mitchell. >> we had so many severe storm reports, there were well over 100 extending to high winds. in addition to the tornado reports we saw yesterday and a few more the day before into places like oklahoma. with a front lingering through the south we have concerns and rain that we'll add to the programme. even though the threat is winding down. anywhere from the gold coast. watch for the potential, as we finish doing forward, still a couple of days of rain. the rain up and down the

alabama later. at least two tornadoes ripped through this town near huntsville. trees pulled out and power lines knocked down. now, the good news is that nobody was injured. that system is now moving over georgia. >> you see stuff like that and it is hard to believe that people were not injured there. >>> meteorologist kari hall has a look at the weekend and maybe you have a honey do list going, kari. >> a great weekend to get out there and get yard work done and plant some new flowers. that's what i plan to do and spring cleaning, too. let's take a look at the temperatures now. 50 degrees in livermore and 50 in livermore and san francisco and 43 degrees now in santa rosa. we will have breezy winds today and rough conditions along the coast. we will have that risk of rip currents. so, be mindful of that if you're going to the beach today. winds coming in from the north and west at about 10 to 15 miles an hour. we will also have more clouds in the mix today. let's break it down for berkeley. we will start out at 50 degrees at 6:00 and also at 7:00, 56 degrees at 1

town of new hope, mississippi. >> other tornadoes also reported in louisiana, alabama, as well. all spawned from these storms you're looking at on radar. the worst of it moving into georgia and the carolinas right now. rolling through the south, overnight in alabama sirens blaring. people taking cover. a tornado visible in the dark when the lightning flashes. >> take it the other way. >> reporter: in mississippi another tornado forming behind that house. the high winds toppling trees and power poles, damaging homes and buildings. a 16-year-old jumping in this truck to seek shelter when he says the high winds tossed the vehicle into a ditch. rescue crews eventually pulling him to safety. that same system responsible for spawning violent weather in other southern >> there's the debris off roofs. >> reporter: at least six tornadoes, a trail of devastation and flash flooding. abc's steve osunsami in jonesboro, arkansas. >> reporter: here's something else we're seeing roads like this washed away. with more rain coming, more of this is much more likely. >> now the severe weather setti

town quite a that all. >> thank you so much. [applause] you make alabama proud. , you have theher microphone with you. mrs. gallagher was the chief personal secretary to jackie kennedy. we have some wonderful stories we will share. for senatorwork kennedy when he was in congress, correct? ready for was first the senate election in massachusetts as a congressman. >> tell us how you came into the life of mrs. kennedy and took on that role. >> it's a wonderful story because it engaged me to be able to remain in the service of the then senator kennedy when i was forced to leave after three and a half years into the tenure with him in the senate because i had a child due to be born and if i stayed another day longer in the senate , my associates would be having a nervous fit. about two weeks before the birth of my first son, the senator stop my my desk and asked how i was feeling. i was sitting at the typewriter instead i feel just great. he said then you will be around a while longer. if you consider two weeks and my longer -- two weeks a while longer. he said you felt fine. i said first things first. fou

alabama. heavy rain in the mississippi delta caused widespread flooding and prompted some evacuations. in the southern town of purvis, high wednesday toppled trees and power lines. further north, near the alabama state line, at least a dozen homes were damaged. >> we are out in the shop messing with my car. all the sudden, my wife called me and said, you need to come in. the siren is going off. yes here the sirens going off. when we come running out of the shop, there was some tin flying off the top of the shop there, you know, just it's nothing i have ever seen or been in. >> reporter: crews also rescued a 16-year-old after he and his truck got stuff in a ditch. in alabama, at least two twisters hit, leaving thousands without power but no one in the state or in louisiana was hurt. herm illa algowy, al jazeera. >> let's bring in nicole for the latest? >> yesterday, definitely there was toranados we were talking about but more widespread was all of the oranges that you see on this map and they go all the way up to the great lakes. high wind and damaging wind reports, a lot of power lines, trees down, other

church, birmingham, alabama... where on september (chuckle) 16, 1963, four black girls were blown apart by dynamite. and in that film... we have archival footage of mayors of southern townswho always say it's some outside agitators. like, "we know... we know how to control our niggers". it is outside agitators. "these... these negroes from the north who are comin' down to stir our niggers up." in a lotta ways that reminds (laugh) me of what these people are sayin' about me and... and... >> and it's not just chicago... >> and... and... and... >> it's baltimore. new orleans. >> yes >> anywhere, that's always it's the outside agitators. >> but here... here... here... here's... here's the thing that really is troublin' to me. nick cannon and i were gettin', you know, stuff in a social medium, saying... criticizin' nick because he's not authentic. here's the word that really got me. he's not a "savage". so that's... >> i'm sorry. i'm sorry. people are saying he's not savage enough to play... >> no, he's not a savage... because that's new term some of these young brothers are usin'. that's the new form of malehood. you gotta be a savage. so... >> wow. >> ...this... i mean look

this alabama native has been busy touring with artists like the zach brown band, our favorite, and little big towneir national tv debut right here. >> and we're thrilled and honored. their performance says it all. it's called living the dream. hello, guys. >> how are you? >> how does it feel making your national tv debut, baby? >> we feel blessed. we're great. >> can i tell you what i love about you? your brought your mom, dad, mother-in-law, father-in-law, wife. >> parole officer. everybody is here. >> brought the parole officer. >> your mom told me i named one dog blake and i should name my second dog drake. >> iould go for that. >> we need you to sing this big hit for us. >> here he is, "living the dream," everybody. ♪ everybody say we wouldn't make it ♪ baby, love don't live around here much lately ♪ times are hard and hearts break like the bank ♪ yes they do ♪ lots of reasons just to give it on up ♪ leave your soul on the shelf collect the dust ♪ leaving a world of broken promises and empty tanks but ♪ look at us ♪ look at with us a picket fence, ain't got a lot of money ♪ but we're making a

church, birmingham, alabama... where on september (chuckle) 16, 1963, four black girls were blown apart by dynamite. and in that film... we have archival footage of mayors of southern townswho always say it's some outside agitators. like, "we know... we know how to control our niggers". it is outside agitators. "these... these negroes from the north who are comin' down to stir our niggers up." in a lotta ways that reminds (laugh) me of what these people are sayin' about me and... and... >> and it's not just chicago... >> and... and... and... >> it's baltimore. new orleans. >> yes >> anywhere, that's always it's the outside agitators. >> but here... here... here... here's... here's the thing that really is troublin' to me. nick cannon and i were gettin', you know, stuff in a social medium, saying... criticizin' nick because he's not authentic. here's the word that really got me. he's not a "savage". so that's... >> i'm sorry. i'm sorry. people are saying he's not savage enough to play... >> no, he's not a savage... because that's new term some of these young brothers are usin'. that's the new form of malehood. you gotta be a savage. so... >> wow. >> ...this... i mean look

they said he is a down-home warmth and alabama when you give of this minute round concerts for had six rounds that had a fabulous finish the houston astros and town shammai of the call him the simone randy johnson he throws hard for its four runs in five innings. >>marty gonzales: us to live the outside the golden gate bridge this time around beautiful shot for the weekend it is the all card an art festival is a mountain view. i drive a golf ball. i drive to the hoop. i drive a racecar. i have a driver. his name is carl. but that's not what we all have in common. we talked to our doctors about treatment with xarelto®. xarelto® is proven to treat and help reduce the risk of dvt and pe blood clots. xarelto® is also proven to reduce the risk of stroke in people with afib, not caused by a heart valve problem. for people with afib currently well managed on warfarin, there is limited information on how xarelto® and warfarin compare in reducing the risk of stroke. you know, taking warfarin, i had to deal with that blood testing routine. i couldn't have a healthy salad whenever i wanted. i found another way. yeah, treatment with xarelto®. hey, safety fir

alabama and the weekend forecast from meteorologist maria molina. you are watching "fbn a.m.," your first look at breaking news. ♪ you focus on making great burgers, or building the best houses in townor becoming the next highly-unlikely dotcom superstar. and us, we'll be right there with you, helping with the questions you need answered to get your brand new business started. we're legalzoom and we've already partnered with over a million new business owners to do just that. check us out today to see how you can become one of them. legalzoom. legal help is here. lauren: let's get you caught up on what is happening now. a new foxbusiness also donald trump trailing in primary states before tuesday's primary, ted cruz leading trump by 10 percentage points. bernie sanders meeting hillary clinton on the democratic side by 48% to 43% in the race for the democratic nomination in wisconsin. tornadoes touching down in louisiana and mississippi. a dozen homes damaged, ahead of the jobs report and opening bell, dow futures down, up 7%, great quarter up numb 1.5%, other markets down, looking at futures and nasdaq. nicole: the hostility in the campaign season has big-name companies rethinking s

town hall meetings in tennessee. >>> still ahead in "morning joe," there is bear bryant in alabama, john wooden in california, and bobbyo after karly fiorina in the general election if she and ted cruz get that far. >>> but first, here's bill karins. >> bill karins before he was bill karins. >> no. i'm not sure about that. >> remember that weird phase, willie, where he demanded that we call him -- mika, maybe you remember? the meteorologist formerly known as bill karins? i remember that as a tribute this week. >> there was a time he wanted to call us instead of bill karins, kerry, i didn't get it. he's back. >> i remember that one. >> he had this weird symbol, i don't know what it was. >> a man or a woman. >> dressed in purple and it was just sort of like, i don't know, is it rain, shine. >> that must have been a key west trip. >> oh, you guys. truce is over i see. let's talk about what happened yesterday. and let's show you the pictures. we thought there was a chance of a few tornadoes. we ended up with 19 rorpts of tornadoes. one of the big ones was in iowa. it was in a wide open field. that's where we like them. did

alabama. ere's another one. this guy had 34 arrests over 12 years, he's a palestinian. he was arrested by a town in my district, i.c.e. said they couldn't deport him because the u.s. doesn't recognize palestine. they've started to require fingerprints of people claiming custody of children who entered the united states illegally without an adult relative. among the many policy suggestions that's been made do you think this is an effective policy for who are repeat offenders who are not ed priority one. ms. saldana: i would consider that. we have not proposed it but i would consider it. mr. palmer: why haven't you? why haven't you taken that action? ms. saldana: i'll tell you, sir, there's a lot of things i need to get to and i'm pedaling as fast as i can. we all have that under advisement right now and we're looking at it. mr. palmer: pedaling as fast as you can won't do much good for people at a funeral. s. saldana: it's all i can do. >> the chair recognizes the gentleman. >> i want to start by recognizing two groups of people. the first one is sara ann root, age 21. mr. root, i'm proud of you