E-mail a friendFebruary 20, 2008
Former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown talks about the '78 Moscone-Milk assassinations. Best-selling author and musician James McBride explains historical fiction and tells why he writes it.
Willie Brown
Willie Brown
Former San Francisco Mayor tells the story of the 1978 Moscone-Milk assassinations and how he was also on the killer's hit list. (2:22)
Former San Francisco Mayor discusses his autobiography and the '78 Moscone-Milk assassinations. Full interview. (12:33)
Willie Brown went from a segregated East Texas neighborhood to a public service career spanning some 40 years. He served over 30 years in the California State Assembly, 14 as speaker—a state record. He then spent eight years as mayor of San Francisco—the first and only African American to hold that post. Brown initially wanted to be a math teacher and worked as a doorman, janitor and shoe salesman to put himself through college. He tells the story of his journey in the new autobiography, Basic Brown.
James McBride
James McBride
Best-selling author and musician explains historical fiction and tells why he writes it. (1:14)
Journalist and saxophonist James McBride has several awards for his work as a writer and a composer. After earning his master's at age 22, he began his journalism career with stints at the Boston Globe, People magazine and The Washington Post. At age 30, he decided to pursue a music career and has written musical scores and toured with a variety of artists. McBride's '96 memoir, The Color of Water, is an American literary classic. Currently a writer-in-residence at NYU, his new book is Song Yet Sung.