LT's Take - The Jena 6 And The Power of Black Radio

An interesting and timely quote from the book Voice Over The Making of Black Radio by William Barlow:

"Back then, the SCLC had their offices right below our studios (WERD). If Dr. King wanted to make an announcement, he'd take a broomstick and hit on the ceiling. That was the signal that somebody downstairs wanted to make an announcement, and we knew by the taps which party it was. so when I'd hear his tap, if I was on the air, I'd say -- "We interrupt this program for another message from the president of the SCLC, Martin Luther King, Jr. And now, here is Dr. King! But while I was saying it, I'd let a microphone out the window, and it would come down to him, and he'd pull the microphone in from his window, and he'd make his announcement. And then I'd say, as I was pulling the microphone back up -- "We've just heard another message from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and now, on with the programming!"

--- Jack "Jack The Rapper" Gibson, interview by Jacquie Gales Webb, July 1995, Washington, D.C., for the Radio Smithsonian Program Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was.


The events of last week concerning The Jena 6 had my ears glued to Black Radio and eyes glued to the news stations, local and nationally, to see just who was covering it and how they were covering it.

Michael Baisden, Tom Joyner, Joe Madison, Steve Harvey, Bernie McCain, KYS, PGC, PFW, TV One, BET, Channel 32, 4, 5, 7, 9, FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, you name it, I was either listening or watching.

As far as black radio goes, Radio One's WOL 1450 AM (now heard also on XM Radio Channel 169) had the best coverage in the mornings and the dayparts. At 3pm of course - Michael Baisden continued to do an excellent job.

I thought that as far as cable stations go, CNN did the best job as far as, on the ground coverage was concerned and getting some key interviews. Also, the way that CNN went over the timeline again and again with guests included was well done and helped educate a lot of folks who may have missed this story that began last August 2006 to learn just the facts. As a matter of fact, it seems the facts are still coming out about this story as I write this.

So many opinions have been expressed about the Jena 6 situation, it actually took me a couple of days to get my own thoughts about it in writing form. This was also due to the fact that more and more details about this story have arisen in the last few days.

What I decided to do before I even blogged about it was read a book I have called "Voice Over The Making of Black Radio". This is a book that I read in 1999 but the series of events that took place this week made me open it up again.

The book has 6 parts and 15 chapters but this time I went straight to Part V. sections 10 and 11:

Part V. "Burn Baby Burn": Black Power Radio
10. "A Change Is Gonna Come"
a. Soul Music's Social Message
b. Contrasting Styles
c. The Chicago Sound: Sam Cooke and Curtis Mayfield
d. Dumping Jim Crow on Black Radio
e. Georgie Woods
f. Mobilizing the Troops

11. Microphones in the Riot Zones
a. Peacemakers In the Neighborhoods
b. Helping a Nation in Mourning
c. The Rise and Fall of the NARA (National Association of Radio Announcers founded by Jack Gibson)

Overall, I would say that as unfortunate as the case in Jena, Louisiana is, there are hundreds if not thousands of Jena's that have happened and still happen in various ways every day. I think that this Jena 6 situation brought to light the issue of how black and brown youth are incarcerated at increasingly higher rates then whites and in certain cases, for the same crimes or lesser offenses.

This case touched a nerve with many Black people across the country and especially young people and that was great to see. It shows that a whole generation of young people are not as asleep as many would have us believe. It shows that they do have an awareness, and a consciousness. It's just that the youth of today are being commercially bombarded constantly with other distractions every day.

This case also shows to me that it does not take one Black organization, one Black church, or one Black "leader" (I use this term only because it has been used for so long by the mainstream white media to describe a Black person who stands up to declare what they feel is right or wrong in society. We all are leaders as people.) to start a movement. It can happen with one person or a group of people who just decided to put their feet down and say enough is enough.

When a wrong happens and people find out about it, when we unify, anything is possible.

My final thoughts on the radio play of it all is, I really don't care if it was a Baisden to raise this issue, Steve Harvey, Joe Madison, Reverend Al Sharpton or whoever. To me that doesn't matter. Michael Baisden has even said repeatedly please do not give him the credit for this because that is not what this was or is about. It's about injustice. It's about eliminating unfair treatment and injustices all over the States and the world. I thought that was a great comment. He took it to the universal as Dr. King did when he said that.

Another good point to take note of is by people already knowing the different types of topics Baisden has brought to the fore so far, this one I think honestly took a lot of folks off guard who may or may not listen to him. Especially those who may not listen regularly but know of the kind of topics (relationships, music, domestic issues, interviewing authors etc.) he does.

So by Baisden taking on such a hot social and political issue, he already had a big audience to start with, I think it was a surprise to many people who had already pigeon-holed him as a party type guy who just likes to have fun and a good time.

It showed, once again, even through this type of venue, people are listening and will come out for what they believe in. I think it even surprised many of the black talk shows that generally focus on human and civil rights, injustices and more.

This is definitely a case and a story to watch (as it is a current event in progress) to see what will happen in the coming days, weeks and months. Not only to Mychal Bell but also if a new movement has truly begun not only for black people and in particular the youth but for people regardless of thier race or nationality who have undegone injustice. This movement is for everybody.

I have had my problems and still do with syndication radio but this Jena 6 situation is an example of how syndication can be used for the common good when everyone can put their million dollar contracts aside, put any egos aside, put aside the corporation they work for (who doesn't want them to get involved and call in), and just say as On-Air Personalites, "This Is All Bigger Than Any Of Us. I'm Getting Involved."