with him, which is so integral to the play as we know it, was that his father was a roommate of langston hughes. karen: john ross' s dad? >> that' s right. langston -- uncle langston, as he called him -- called him and said, "why don' t you have a go at putting this together?" is was acknowledged as one of the best productions of langston hughes' play. karen: in the country. >> in the country. karen: that' s amazing. which leads to why it has been so successful for all these years. >> that' s right. karen: what is your favorite song in the performance? last question. >> my favorite song is "christ is born." it sums up everything that has happened to that point. christ is born in the land of judea and the virgin mary -- it tells the story in one song, it is one of the faster pieces, we build up to that song, and it explodes and the audience goes crazy and we feel their energy . we normally go back into singing the song again because the energy in the room is just so intense. karen: oh boy. and your favorite song? >> my favorite is "joy to the world." we have two versions. the first version is su

emma till and maybee till mobley and langston hughes. and we're here because of the courage and the sacrifice of a james chaney, of an andrew goodman, michael swarner. and we're here because of the belief and vision of martin luther king and an ella baker. but we're also at this moment because there were amazing historians who paved the way. we're here because of latisha brown who taught and helped us understand the history of black d.c. and benjamin quarrels and john hope franklin. the people that helped shape us. but we're also here because there's so many people whose names didn't make the history books. we're here because of the enslaved who believed in a better day when they shouldn't have believed. we're here because of families that left the south for the south side of chicago to demand freedom and fairness. we're here because of students who left brandeis university to go south to help with voter registration. and we're here, quite candidly, because of generations of black teachers who refuse despite textbooks and segregated scho

it happened just before 11:00 last night inside of the langston hughes houses on sutter avenue in brownsville. one of the victims is a 25-year-old man who was shot in the head. police have not identified the other victims. no arrests have been made. >>> new this morning a bizarre and sad story here. a former rikers inmate awarded by the city after he was beating by tryingers guards is dead. 28-year-old robert hinton was shot and killed thanksgiving not two months after he settled a lawsuit with the city for almost half a million dollars. he was left seriously injured after being hog-tied and beaten by guards inside a now closed solitary confinement unit at rikers. >>> the annual post- thanksgiving shopping ritual known as black friday. some are saying this year it was a little bit more grey than black. gone are the throngs of shoppers camping out for days ahead of the big sales bonanza. for the most part, the usual frenzy seemed more like a normal shopping day. was a lot more to and better bargains. >> it's really fun. i like to shop a lot. >> there is a lot of people here. you can't go wrong

year-old dupree dunbar and 25-year-old dupree moore were gunned down on the 14th floor of the langston hughes houses friday night. so far, no suspects in their murders. >>> and we are continuing to follow the deadly shooting at a planned parenthood center in colorado springs. we've learned the suspected gunman, robert lewis dear, was a reclusive sort. there are suggestions he had anti-abortion sentiments but police haven't officially commented on a motive. yesterday there were vigils to remember the three people killed in friday's shooting rampage. are trying to find out who buried a newborn baby alive. police found the infant girl near a creek bed in the compton area friday after getting reports of a baby crying. deputies had to remove pieces of asphalt and debris to rescue her. investigators say there are signs she was born at a medical facility or hospital. the infant is believed to be 1 day old and is expected to be okay. >>> and in central california, a suspected burglar died after he got stuck in a chimney. the homeowner discovered the suspect when he heard screams after lighting a fire

i was always hearing those stories about langston hughes and people like that. so for me to have this physical record of me growing up, knowing that somebody will read that to their child or some child will read it and be inspired like i was, that really is humbling for me. >> is that why you chose this an aught tobiography? >> yes, so they can see people who reflected their lives that grew up in poor neighborhoods who never thought they would have the opportunity. or like me, growing up bow legged. >> i'm bow legged. >> i had to have the braces and everything. >> how did that not stand in your way? >> i was raised by people who could make a way out of no way. >> this is your aunt and uncle? >> my great aunt and uncle. my mother was having difficulties in her life. they took me in when i was no bigger than a loaf of bread. they taught me from the old-time religion. i went to church, did all of those things that gave me some sense of a backbone. that's really what this is all about. this is really to honor them, who are no longer with us. >> and all of these thin