It's a big step forward for us, just to have a hearing.

'Something to Look Forward To' pays homage to the talent, vision and persistence of particular black artists who have created dynamic abstract images and objects during extended and successful careers.

I'm so sick of hearing how there's no strong roles for women. I don't care about strong roles. I just want to see women who are characters! A nun, a serial killer, a housewife, as long as there's some depth there.

Mr. Chairman, let us not railroad this hearing.

We've been [hearing] it all year. We broke camp knowing no one picked us to do very well during the season. We came out of spring being third or fourth in the polls. We were the underdog all year even when we had a 15-game lead. Nobody really considers us contenders, so if we're underdogs during this whole thing, it would just be the same as it was during the year.

We just talked to him on the phone. He told us he's excited to come to Sacramento, and just hearing him say that, we were convinced he was sincere.