taylor thomas here with today's talk around town. we know a lot of your listeners are federal employees, and they seem to really appreciate this out pring of support you're hearing. >> we're getting an onslaught of calls from individuals, churches and business owners just wanting to step up and help out. our listeneners do feel, however, politicians have failed our federal employees by furloughing them. and they just want to roll-up their sleeves and help where they can. we're getting calls of people giving out gift certificates, and even doing small fund raisers. >> it's been overwhelming. i actually had firsthand experience. someone called me this morning and they just said, hey, we know you're impacteand we're going pay the mortgage for next month. it was absolutely amazing. >> wow. >> cld you imagine that? and that's just a little bit of what we're hearing of people calling in and wanting to help out. >> yeah, but to know how the need has reallyot people just caught in its grip right now. getting some money le that, it's got to b

taylor thomas is here, good to see you. >> thank you so much. >> not a happy new year for governmend workers those who rely on them for their salaries. a lot of them in your listening audience. they are calling in. what ar>>you hearing? hey are feeling the pinch. we are hearing of families getting together to share the bills instead of one family buying 24 rolls of tissue, they are sharing it. bothers are noting snacks, only buying things on sale and cutting coupons. others are reaching out o creditors sying i don't know when i can pay you. we have mothers and mothers working for the government. it's the first of the month. a bill due. >> this is affecting every aspect of my life, to pay my bills, my mortgage. all my bills are affected. >> you have resources to help out if they need that. >> let mesay, if you haven't reached out to your mortgage lender, rental unit or creditors, that's the first thing you should do. opm tweeted a link of sample letters to send to agencies, creditors and mortgage lenders., aldon't forget the credit unions. there are great credit unions offering specia

wake up and see that there was a whole different, not only to you but jason reynolds, angie thomas, mildred taylor, meyers, understand because surely we like people don't really get it, we will only see glimpse and get closer because of authors like you, so on behalf of my students -- >> guest: some of the authors that came before me and paveed the road and they actually did show the world what the african american experience looked like so thank you for using those books and thank you for calling and so greenville. that's amazing. >> host: michael, alabama. >> caller: good afternoon, finally at all last i'm able to talk to in-depth guest. ms. woodson i'm a big admirer and huge fan of yours although most of the african-american fiction i've read has been from other authors, my question is about actually i have two questions about children's fiction and about the challenges or pitfalls of getting published. first of all, i'm hoping to get others especially children to elementary schoolers to grow with a very rare autism and mental illness and so forth. it's like african americans and hispanics, you

taylor: this district was first represented by william thomas clark, a general in the union army in 1870. since then 19 people have represented the district, including myself. most recently a true american hero, congressman sam johnson epresented the third district. for 20 years he served in the united states. prior to that he was in the u.s. air force. shot down his first m.i.g. in korea. served a ground tore of vietnam. and second tour on his 46th mission he was flying his jet over and enemy gun position. his gun jammed. he did a circle around. flew a second time and that time he was shot down. he then went to the hanoi hilton. beetings, rvived torture. you know what, despite that, despite the tremendous pressure he was under, sam johnson was unique among the prisoners of the hanoi hilton he never broke. he never gave in. he was waivered in his patriotism and his faith and god and courage and sacrifices and commitment to this country. for that america is eternally grateful for his service. after he got back from the hanoi hilton and came back to his beloved shirley and children back in