Latest news with #Blackness
Axios
4 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Scoop: Four employees out in shakeup at WURD Radio
At least four employees, including one of WURD Radio's top hosts, are being let go as part of what's described internally as a cost-cutting measure, Axios has learned. Why it matters: WURD is the only Black-owned radio station in Pennsylvania, and among only a handful nationwide. The station, founded by the late Walter P. Lomax Jr., broadcast live during last year's presidential campaign from the White House complex — a major get. Driving the news: The layoffs include "Reality Check" host Tonya Pendleton and her lead producer, Troy Wilmore. He had been with the station for 18 years. Pendleton, one of Philly's well-known radio personalities, has led "Reality Check" for the last two years. Content writer Kiara Santos and one other employee were also among those let go. The show won't continue to air, the station's general manager, Ashanti Martin tells Axios. She wouldn't say whether WURD would ever bring back the program. WURD CEO and president Sara Lomax-Reese, the late founder's daughter, wrote in a memo obtained by Axios that the layoffs were meant to "ensure the station's long-term survival." She praised the laid-off staffers' "meaningful contributions to our station, our community and our city." "This decision was not made lightly. As an independent media radio station, it is imperative that we maintain our ability to give Black Philadelphia a voice and a place to make their voices heard," she wrote. What they're saying: The WURD employees affected by the cuts either declined to comment or didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. State of play: The media landscape is shifting, and competition for dwindling advertising revenue is fierce. WURD faced a setback earlier this year, when a conservative health care nonprofit filed a lawsuit alleging the station and one of its partners engaged in reverse racism when it launched a Black doctors directory to help connect people seeking care with physicians of color in the region. Martin tells Axios the cuts were unrelated to the lawsuit. The bottom line: Martin says the radio station is trying to find its footing while dealing with the "erasure of Blackness" from society. "I'm very confident we will survive and thrive," she says. "It's time like this that outlets like WURD are needed more than ever. We want to be around for another 22 years and another 22 after that."
Chicago Tribune
25-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Rebecca R. Bibbs: Why the pope's Black ancestry matters
Since news of the new pope, Robert Prevost, who assumed the name Leo XIV, hit the wires, he has been universally celebrated as being an American from Chicago. But he's also another important first, something that wasn't divulged at the same time or with the same fanfare: the first known pontiff of demonstrable African descent. This is important history, both for Black and mixed-race people. It may not be big news elsewhere, but as a nation where firsts in Black achievement are routinely catalogued, it seems odd there has been little mention of this in the mainstream media. It also seems odd because situations in which Black ancestry is suspected are often difficult to verify, but the documentation here is clear. The way the news of the new pope's heritage was made public speaks to the complexity of discussions of race in the U.S., especially in this era. Black and mixed-race people have had to fight for their place in history. Black families in Western nations for the past 400 years had to carry the lore, orally and in writing, of Black or mixed-race explorers, inventors, scientists and cultural leaders at times when they were excluded from the mainstream. In other nations, the Blackness of the pope simply may not be quite as important as it is in the U.S., especially at a time when the presidential administration is trying to erase Black history from its military, libraries and even coursework at private post-secondary institutions. Had Pope Leo XIV been African, he would have been described as such, and his race would have been assumed, unless he came from South Africa. But coming from the multiracial, multiethnic U.S., his background begged for further description. When it came to characterizing the new pontiff, The New York Times first described him as 'Creole,' which is accurate. But it's also a historical way of softening the blow toward introducing the Blackness of an individual who otherwise might be read as white. The Times also soft-pedaled the introduction of the pope's lineage by skipping a generation and attributing his Blackness to his maternal grandparents, Joseph and Louise Martínez. But the reporter didn't have to go back that far to make the point. All they had to do was say his mother, Mildred Prevost, was Black or mixed-race of African descent. This may be an exercise in explicit bias or an attempt to shield the pope and his reputation from the enormity of this revelation. Regardless of the motivation, it distances him from the reality of his heritage. In fact, because of our history in the U.S., we make racial distinctions and have a broad vocabulary to describe even the pope. Historically, someone who is mostly white would have been known as a 'quadroon,' but more recent generations call it 'multigenerational mix,' 'MGM' or 'multigenerational multiracial.' But in the area of the United States to which his family was traced, historically, he would have been subject to the 'one drop rule' and treated as Black in spite of the dominance of his white genetics. This would not have been true in the Caribbean, where the rule is reversed, and he would have been considered white. The announcement of the pope's heritage also points to an important phenomenon: the role of mixed-race people as a bridge between the races. In the first 25 years of this century, a mixed-race man was elected leader of the free world, and a mixed-race man was elected leader of the world's largest Christian denomination. That is no accident. Both, by the way, are from Chicago. Some Black people bemoan what they view as the historically privileged existence of the 'house Negro,' who often was the mulatto offspring of the master. But the mixed-race American actually has served an important role throughout the struggles for abolition, civil rights and political equality. Just as vocabulary helps moderate the news of an individual's Blackness, mixed-race heritage helps create a gentler path toward Black power in societies where influence traditionally is concentrated among white people. Former President Barack Obama, for instance, publicly identifies as a Black man. But as he campaigned for the presidency, he had no qualms about pointing to his relationships with his white mother and grandmother, which likely contributed to his success at the polls. The new pope and his family, reportedly, do not identify as Black. However, no mention is made of whether he actually identifies as white or multiracial. But whether it matters to the pope or his family, it matters to the world, especially the United States. And being from here, he knows that. Regardless, the cardinals who selected Leo did a deep dive into his background and surely knew about his mixed-race heritage. The conclave may not yet have felt ready to install an Asian or African pope, but having one who is mixed-race helps prepare for the racial and ethnic diversification of the office that is inevitable. Either way, the new pope embodies all the complexities of being an American, serving as an authentic ambassador of our history and culture.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How Black America Can Survive These Scary Times, Despite Having No Leaders to Help Us
May 19 would have been the 100th birthday of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, the man most know as Malcolm X. As such, Black folks have reflected on the man and his legacy by going to social media and posting his picture or a favorite quote. In these fraught days, one post stands out: A speech that Malcolm delivered to young people in Mississippi in 1964. 'One of the first things I think young people, especially nowadays, should learn is how to see for yourself and listen for yourself and think for yourself. Then you can come to an intelligent decision for yourself.' In this speech, Malcolm is talking to young people because, throughout his life, he had a passion for educating young Black men and women. He understood that it would be their job to continue the fight against white supremacy after he was gone. If he could look at what is happening today, there is no doubt that Malcolm would feel deep disappointment. Not with the current generation, but instead with those of us who have raised them. There is an entire generation of Black kids who have not been raised to be proud of their culture. Many Black parents were so focused on giving their children a better life that they forgot to teach them Black pride. What's worse is that there are no Black leaders for these kids to look up to. Malcolm and Martin Luther King, Jr, so all we have left are Black politicians who are often disingenuous and merely giving talking points that they hope will help further their career. Then there are the Black celebrities who talk a good game, but cannot be trusted. We need genuine Black leaders now more than we have in decades. Not politicians who will put on a good show, but people who deeply love Black folks and are willing to boldly and fearlessly tell the truth about what is happening to our community. This is no small task. It will not bring you fame and fortune. It will not get you elected. In fact, it might get you killed. Blackness is under assault. Those who have vowed to protect and serve are killing us in the streets with impunity. If you look at what is at the top of the billboard charts, it is clear that America loves Black culture. But it feels like this country despises Black people. We need to teach our kids to be proud of Black culture. To take pride in the things our people have been through and overcome. We must teach them to not blindly seek fame or fortune, but to work for the betterment of all people whose skin is kissed by the sun. Let the memory of Malcolm X remind us to teach the next generation their history. Because if we don't do it, no one will. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reporter: Johnson's comments ‘not specific' toward race in city hires
(NewsNation) — With the Department of Justice launching an investigation into the hiring practices of the city of Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson has come under fire for his remarks on the subject. WGN-TV investigative reporter Ben Bradley says Johnson's comments have been taken out of context. 'I think this is a great example of the tail wagging the dog,' said Bradley on 'NewsNation Now.' 'You had the mayor's comments on Sunday igniting a social media firestorm in some circles, which ignited this potential DOJ investigation.' The DOJ letter to the city states the investigation revolves around Johnson's 'suggestion' that his office hires based on race, but Bradley acknowledges all Johnson was doing was referring to Black members of his administration, who he indicated specifically understand the needs of the Black community and their unique position to help them. Trump's immigration agenda tests courts' presumption of good faith 'You could object to that language all you want, but he never came out and said, 'Oh, I only hire Black people,'' added Bradley. In Johnson's office, the race of employees is diverse. Numbers show 34% of those hired are Black, 30% are white and 23% are Hispanic. Those statistics are similar to the city's overall population, which stands at 32% white, 30% Hispanic and 28% Black. 'I can tell you in Chicago's sordid racial history, that has not always been the case,' Bradley said. 'In fact, many administrations for many decades were shockingly white people.' Bradley noted Johnson has been very open about his Blackness and was in a Black church on the South Side of the city talking about what he's done to empower Black residents. Meanwhile, President Trump has been persistent about his DEI views and that race should not be a factor in hiring methods. Bradley also believes local lawmakers are split about whose side to take. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why Racists Are Emboldened to Say Exactly What Is On Their Minds
2025 has been an all-out assault on Blackness. Since Donald Trump took office on January 20th, he tried to erase the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen from military history, has made attempts to gut the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and is trying his best to eradicate all Diversity, Equity and inclusion initiatives. These are the blatant, in your face results of his Presidency. But there is a more subtle and far more insidious thing that is happening because of the man who occupies the Oval Office. By now I'm sure you've heard of Shiloh Hendrix. She is the white woman who was caught on camera unapologetically calling an autistic 5-year-old child the N-word. According to her, that situation 'put [her] into a very dire situation,' and has since raised over $700,000 to help her navigate it. This is deeply concerning because this racist woman is now being rewarded for doing something that she would have been cancelled for just a year ago. But Hendrix is not the only one. She is but the most recent example of a white person profiting off racism. Lily Gaddis was a self-proclaimed 'tradwife' who went viral last year after she used the N-word during a cooking tutorial video. (Making potato salad with raisins, I suspect.) She is now a right-wing pundit who proudly proclaims that she is an 'unashamed racist.' Gaddis now is invited by the likes of Pies Morgan to share screen time with intellectuals like Dr. Marc Lamont Hill. One more time for those in the back. Shiloh Hendrix and Lilly Gaddis both engaged in behavior that would have gotten them cancelled in years past, but the opposite has happened. They are now being rewarded for their bad behavior. The former was given nearly a million dollars and the latter now has a burgeoning media career. What are we to make of this? President Donald Trump has created a culture of anti-Black permissibility. Let me put it another way. Things that racist white folk used to only say privately, they now feel emboldened to say with their chest. No longer are they socially ostracized for uttering these vile things…they are now rewarded. Others who always wanted to say these things but felt silenced have rallied around these individuals. If you look at who's donated to Hendrix's fundraiser or who gives Gaddis a platform, they are, at best, conservative, and, at worst, Neo-Nazis. This is the Trump effect. He makes racists feel comfortable to say whatever comes to mind, and they have no fear of what might happen. In fact, in the culture he created, there is a possibility that they might be rewarded. This is America in 2025. It's not as bad as 1965, but it's not much better. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
