If anyone has any connections, please send this to the President...
An Urgent Request for President Barack Obama
“HELP Mr. President, News and Notes Needs a Bailout on NPR”
Mr. President,
This is a respectful and humble plea for my favorite radio programming on NPR (National Public Radio). The demise of NPR’s “News and Notes” (Mon-Fri 8pm-9pm) is just another example of the denial to those African Americans who are engaged and welcome intellectual pursuits that challenge their cognitive interpretation of current events that affect economic, social and political dealings of African Americans across this country. Stated on the NPR web site, “News & Notes” weaves on-location reporting, profiles, one-on-one interviews and commentary to capture the news and topics making headlines”. The dumbing of African Americans and the destruction of intellectual exchanges strikes again in the media world. Cancelling one of the best radio broadcasts, that focuses on African American issues. There is a great deal of radio programming on the air, but none like the flavor, the soul and intellectual stimulation that NPR’s “News and Notes” provides.
“News and Notes” will make its final broadcast this month (March) to the dismay of those of us who enjoy meaningful discussions that challenge us to think, not just to drool over scantly clad women using derogatory one syllable words or listen to jokes about our culture and denial of civil and moral rights. There are those of us who enjoy cerebral stimulation not just eye candy of the human physique. The Black Diaspora is an intricate and dynamic cultural plethora that cannot be relegated to just 60 minutes of dialogue and introspection, but “News and Notes” has successfully accomplished this for several years. Stated on the web site,” From newsmakers to performers, health to finance, “News & Notes” explores fascinating issues and people from an African American perspective”. With the current economic down turn stations are trimming programming budgets, but it seems that African Americans are getting a very raw deal.
The travesty of its cancellation is that lost is that opportunity for more African Americans to be awakened to the cultural, economical, political, and social debates that transcend discussions about sports and girls. Even when the opportunity for conversation of athletic accomplishments of African American athletes and for that matter, entertainers is exchanged it is on a level beyond the scoreboard, exorbitant salaries, s*xual encounters, and “Baby Mama Drama”. The debates may range from the interactional developments of steroids and the message it sends to our youth, how sports role models play to our young men’s expectations to behavior on and off the field or do the high salaries of our athletes remove them from their responsibility to “give back” to their communities. In the field of entertainment, discussions can range from the current facts on physical violence, drug addiction and to emotional/physical dependences, s*x sells advertising and lyrics and the gratification of performing to success and money.
No subject is taboo or untouched that influences our African American culture; gays in the military (don’t ask, don’t tell), responsibility of our Black Ministers moral and ethical behavior and the economic and educational viability of HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in the 21st century just to name a few areas discussed in the past. These discussions, talks, observations and intellectual exchanges are unique in that they are nonjudgmental, demeaning, or accusational. “The show's audience – both on-air and online – constantly identify issues of interest, spot trends, share discoveries, offer personal essays, participate in shaping the program and join in News & Notes' dialogue with newsmakers”. When was the last time you heard Black folks talk like that??
Since everyone is asking for a bailout this is my plea, my hope, my request, for a bailout of “News and Notes”. Quality and professional news reporting/discussion and analysis of this caliber is unfortunately few and far between. Just as the song of, “I want my MTV” (Dire Straits - 1984), I like my version better, “I want my News and Notes”…..
Mr. President, Can You Help A Brother Out???
William Jackson, M.Ed.
wmjcksn@yahoo.com
Duval County Public Schools
Florida State College – formally Florida Community College
Posted By: William Jackson
Monday, March 16th 2009 at 12:50AM
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