AFRO-Americ@: Community Discussions

Topic for 8/26/96: In Nashville recently, Minister Louis Farrakhan 'scolded' Black journalists for their failure to be more supportive of him, Black leaders and Black issues. Was his viewpoint correct? If so, how should their reporting be changed to bring more balance to the profession?

Name: JEROME STEWART
Email: jerry@moon.jic.com
Response: Farrakhan is a great man. He is respected all over the world.

Name: Christopher
Email: CrzyCrzy@aol.com
Response: The lord Jesus Christ is coming... but I am afraid it is not Louis Farrakahn...Oh please I beg you brother in the name of the one and only true god to seriously think of what this man really represents...Did he lay down his life and die for your sins... Or does he ask you to commit more and more outrageous blasphemies against god ?What is he really doing ??? Is he setting you free ? Or is he binding you to a life of hatred...Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies, and bless those who curse us... The privilege of his death for us on the cross is that now it matters not what color or race, or creed, or disease, or whatever crimes you have commited... No not one thing can seperate you from god's love and endless grace... Louis Farrakahn is a messiah perhaps, but who's hands is he delivering you from... I ask you is he giving you fully to the creator of life here on earth, or is he giving you over to the enemy, all the while pretending to be a friend...Tonite, I will pray for your soul if you really believe in the lies he tells... The best lie holds some truth... Here is the truth... In white man's greed, he enslaved other people to work on his farms. He raped their women, and beat them mercilessly... He destroyed their spirit, and trampled upon what I have come to know is a beautiful people... A proud upright people who despite their humble beginnings, have grown to love god, to fear god, and respect love and cherish him...I am ashamed for what my fathers have done to you, and although I can't give back what they destroyed, I can in fact give you something that is worth more... A man lived a life that was perfect... He taught lessons designed to last, and shine through for eternity speaking to us now, as perfectly as he did then...God looked at you and loved you and sent his perfect, beautiful son to do nothing but teach what our father wanted us to know... That is to love another... To respect each other...To lift others above us......and much more...He loved you, and in spite of all of that they beat him, and spit on him, and put a crown of thorns on his head, and smacked him with a stick... and they nailed him to a cross... and there he died in shame... While our father in heaven could not even bear to look at the sight...Because it was god's own power ... It was Jesus Christ who actually held the nails into the wood... and there he hung and died so that we would no longer be seperated from our creator...He loved us so much that he died there... and with his last breath cried out your name, and my name, and every last single person's name... even Louis Farrakahn ... who he was taking all the shame for...Louis Farrakahn never carried his cross for you... He never will... He nailed Jesus to his cross, as well as you and I did...Please seek god... Pick up a bible, read the new testament because it is the good news... See if I am wrong or right... and ask god to speak to you before you read... He will answer your prayer... Give the man who layed down everything for you a chance to show you what he did... Give god a chance... He loves you, and grieves for you night and day...He cares for you even now... May god's grace and peace be with you... -Christopher Parks

Name: K. Leonard
Email: k8wra@juno.com
Response: It appears that brother Farrakhan doesn't like for the Black media to have it's own opinion about what causes it wishes to support. The NAACP could make a case that the brother isn't supportive of it's efforts. And many others involved in the struggle could make the same claim about him. I think the brother would do well to just continue his efforts without throwing stones at others who are struggling in a different manner. It takes many soldiers on many fronts, united in effort to win a war. In my own humble opinion, his greatest accomplishment in the struggle was organizing the million-man-march. However, I suppect that the ones who needed to be there, weren't.

Name: Keith Reed
Email: KREED097@coe.coppin.umd.edu
Response: As a young, aspiring Black journalist and activist,I myself have many problems with the "Black Press" as it exists. Minister Farrakhan's comments at the NABJ convention served many purposes, possibly most importantly to vent some of the frustrations that many people in the community have with Black journalists. His remarks remind me of complaints that I have heard from both sides of a debate that includes disgruntled Black media consumers and other Black journalists that feel that they are caught in a "catch 22" by working for white papers. Their biggest dilemma: how to maintain some sort of journalistic standards and credibility through accurate reporting in their own communities while at the same time working under the stigma of editors and publishers at 'mainstream' publications who pay thier wages by catering to the interests of people that could care less about the well-being of the Black community.

I personally have always believed that the solution to the complex problems in the relationship between Black media professionals and the Black community in general should come from a long-overlooked and neglected venue: Black-owned media.

When Black consumers begin to put the majority of their support behind publications such as the Afro', the Pittsburgh Courier (the paper gave this 19 year-old his first real opportunity) and other Black-owned, operated and edited venues, things will begin to change. When Black businesses begin to spend a significant percentage of their advertising dollars to the venues that are in the market of disseminating information to Black consumers, things will begin to change because then Black journalists will be able to support their families without selling their stories and thier journalistic souls to you know who. And when Black publishers, editors and general managers become dedicated to the progress of Black media outlets, things will begin to change because no longer can Black publications afford to be looked upon as inferior. We must be able to compete and excel on every level.

The media industry is changing so dramatically that it will arguably be the driving force behind the new "information economy". In light of this, it can be said that if Black journalists and consumers alike do not shape up soon, our community as a whole is in more trouble than we think. Those on both sides of the debate should take Minister Farrakhan's comments as no less than a wake up call.

Name: gerald brown
Email: gerald@eee.org
Response: How ironic it is when someone tells the Black community it should not form businesses. This is exactly what Mr. Obermeier did when he said there should not be a "Black Media." Is he aware that most things that are considered "Black" were formed when Black people had no options in the broader economy? Just because some Blacks find work at large white publications is no reason for Black people not to be in the business. Perhaps the Baltimore Sun should fold so the Afro-American can report the news without competition.

Name: rlands
Email: lands@electric.austin.tx.us
Response: It ain't about Farrakhan, it about the people. Journalist should have the responsibility of providing information that will aid our people to make the decisions that will allow us to advance our people. That's it. peace

Name: sherise
Email: slanays@umich.edu
Response: farrakhan deserves no more press than the next person. when he does something of concequence for black folk, the story should be told. most of his speaches are half-baked attempts at malcolm x speaches, with a 90's pop-culture twist. his fundraising attempt in northern afrika and the middle-east has been absent from white press and covered in black press. he was denied the $1 bil. donation and the $250,000 annual gift this week by the UN. the denial should definately be covered by the black media because they deal with larger issues than those of one man and his organization. it doesn't matter if you are muslim or not, 'cause you were black first. if the brotha is doing work for black people we need to hear about it. PEACE.

Name: Kurt Obermeier
Email: kober@theriver.com
Response: I have a problem with the existence of a "Black Media". The media has a responsibility to report on newsmakers, polititians etc., black or white. There should not be a "Black Media", "White Media" or any other color media. If we as Americans are ever toe be truly united we need to stop discriminating in ALL aspects.
I further believe that accepting lower standards of behavior from prominent blacks and excusing their actions by simply pointing out their race is one of the millstones around the neck of those who want to see discrimination done away with TOTALLY.

Name: Brother Messiah Akindele of MAD Writer Productions 1996
Email: akinyemi@emuvax.emich.edu
Response: Minister Farrakhan is a microphone fiend himself. But I do see where he is coming from. I saw his speech that he gave in Nashville on C-SPAN and in many cases he's right. The Black media here in this country have covered up facts and events that the public needs to know about. Plus, Nubians who work for the media and hide the truth from their own people don't need to be part of our community anyway. I think many of these so-called Black media folks need a "good ass beating". There is no reason in the world why the truth should be covered up. The Shriners (and other secret socities) that own the Black media need a reality check and realize what they are doing to their own people is a tragedy and a crying shame.

Name: Ralph Randall
Email:
Response: I have not heard the specifs, but anyone who has heard and or follows Farrakhan well knows that he gets his facts straight. My evidence of this simply is that I have not heard of the Jewish acceptance of his challenge to sit his scholars down against Jewish scholars to debate the book the Secret relationship between Blacks & Jews. Also, the congress of the United States backed-up on their summons of the Minister to appear before Cngress. These actions by these groups that are part of the power structure of America is an indication of his correctness. Stated another way, they haven't caught him wrong so they don't want to talk to him.
Having said that, I would like to add this to the discussion. It is necessary to read various publication to draw a well rounded conclusion. In a recent Final Call (Newspaper Published by Muslim's who worship with Farrakhan) there was an article that talked of the increase in dismissals of Black Jornalist from mainstream Newspapers. The article mentioned some high profile Black Journalist from the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun and other mainstream news publications that were losing jobs. Without writing all that floods my mind, my point is, I read this in a paper who's primary interest is Black people. The paper is written for Black people and by Black journalist the publication supports Farrakhan and other Black Leaders, issues and causes. From this analogy, if his scolding was that braod it is incorrect. But, considering my opening statement, the final call article, and the detachment by many Blacks as participants to the Million Man March, Farrakhan is correct. The solution or change that these biased reporters should implement to bring balance to the professionis simple. Add a bit of honesty.....simply be honest!!

Name:
Email: tinsle39@us.net
Response: I think the black media needs to write the truth.

Name: Kevin Izard
Email: kizard@post.its.mcw.edu
Response: As a people we must keep in mind that indeed, "the truth shall make you free." With this in mind, I think it serves us better to tell the truth, whatever it may be, rather than "slant" our reporting of news. If we cannot stand in the light of truth, then we are no better than those we claim to struggle against (i.e. "the MAN.") This goes for Louis F., or Marion Barry, or anyone else.

Name: Othello
Email: othello@voyageronline.net
Response: Farrakahn is entitled to his opinion. It is definately up to us whether or not we accept what he wants us to believe. I don't personally support such ideology, however, I'm not opposed to other people's views unless they completely affect me or my family. Because he receives no support from the press or our black leaders, Farrakahn feels empowered to "rally" us into supporting him when he should take the message and take a hike. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if the plate isn't clean in a restaurant, you don't eat there again. Farrakahn has a tendency to serve us with "dirty" plates. Peace my brothers and sisters!

Name: MJ
Email: pokerface@juno.com
Response: Somehow Mr. Farrakhan thinks he is exempt from objective viewpoint and non-biased reporting. While stations like BET have strived to attain status and viewer base (thereby attracting sponsorship and advertising from MAJOR corporations, thus, remaining solvent and profitable), several high-profile black leaders have cried foul and attempted to discredit them...in public, through (ironically) so-called White Media. Division has led to the decline and destruction of the majority of worthy Afro-American movements, including The Black Panthers. Division is the cancer that ate and finally assassinated Malcolm X. In my opinion, it is division that has placed Louis Farrakhan at odds with his own race. United we stand, divided we fall.

Name: George Lambert
Email: rasta@voicenet.com
Response: First of all . Farrakahn himself is guilty of misrepsenting Muslims in general . Weather they be Black or White . This Farrakahanism is the worst injustic to Islam . Mr. Farrakahn repeatily denouces the Jews and their right to exist. He belives in racial seperation, He uplifts racial hatred. All this is totally aganist Islam. So who is he to Judge anybody about there belifs. And who they should support and follow . Anybody who followes the Idoligies of hatred and genicid aganist Mankind . Followes a straight path to the Gates of Hell . So for yourself read Quran link that to Islam . And associate all this with Farrakahnism and see what your conclueision is .

Name: gray
Email: gray@uakron.edu
Response: On the issue of Farrakhan and the Black Media I feel that the TRUTH be documented and reported as objectively as possible. In my opinion this should be the only criteria in deeming information 'news worthy'.
On the other hand- unbalanced, subjective reporting often may leaves the masses to view home-grown demagoguery as martyredom. "Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free."