Emmis Buys WBLS And WLIB
Amid the decline of black radio in New York City, black radio takes yet another hit. WBLS and WLIB, known for it's African American programming, has been sold to Emmis Communications for $131 million. Emmis is the same corporation that owns Hot 97 (WQHT).
Only time will tell if the program format is going to change. WBLS, which used to be owned by Percy Sutton, has always maintained a high level of decorum. Over the years WBLS has brought legends like Frankie Crocker and Vaughn Harper into black homes. WLIB on AM, brought us Imhotep Gary Bird, Tony Brown, Felipe Luciano and many others to speak their minds on their talk radio format.
Lets hope WBLS and WLIB don't become two more radio stations that portray black people as ignorant buffoons, like Hot 97has done for so long.
Teachers Tells Students That Malcolm X Is "Bad"
Fourth grade students at P.S. 201 in Flushing Queens were told that they could not do a report on Malcolm X for Black History month because he was "violent" and "bad". Cleatress Brown, one outraged parent, confronted Principle Rebecca Lozada. Brown, 47, said “I’m outraged". “As a teacher, you’re imposing your opinion on a bunch of kids.” Brown encouraged her son to write about Malcolm X and turn in his paper anyway.
Malcolm X is only bad for people who believe in the system of racism and white supremacy, and the only violence he was involved in was his own assassination.
Verdict In Dunn Trial
As the George Zimmerman trial did last year, Saturday’s verdict in the Michael Dunn trial has brought about deep soul-searching about race in America. Michael Dunn was charged in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Jordan Davis, in what is being referred to the loud music trial.
Dunn fired 10 rounds into an SUV that was occupied by Davis and his friends after an argument about loud Rap music on November 23, 2012 in Florida. 3 of the 10 shots struck the 17 year old Davis, one of them cutting through his liver, a lung and his aorta. Dunn claimed he felt threatened by the teens and thought he saw a shotgun in the vehicle when he opened fire. Dunn said he shot in self defense. No shotgun was ever found. This case is yet another example of how black life is devalued and seen as "less than".
A jury on Saturday night convicted Dunn of three charges of attempted murder.