To hear the 96.5 interview regarding Juneteenth: Emancipate the Airwaves, click on the link below under the third archived story from 6/16:
http://blogs.965thebuzz.com/lazlo/2009/06/16/tuesday-june-16th-2009/
Showing posts with label Fairness Doctrine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fairness Doctrine. Show all posts
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Time to Emancipate the Airwaves:
Time to Emancipate the Airwaves:
The Airwave Abolition Movement
Paul Scott
Back in 1865, two years and some change after Abe Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, the slaves in Texas finally got the memo that chattel slavery had been abolished. Better late than never I suppose. However, if the right wing talking heads had their way, black folks would still be picking cotton in 2009.
Next week , marks the beginning of Juneteenth week (June 15-19th) a time when African Americans celebrate the end of the last vestiges of that peculiar institution. It is a time to celebrate the freedoms of this country that were so long denied African Americans.
But some things are still in bondage; the airwaves.
While this country prides itself as being a diverse melting pot of ideals and a plethora of differing opinions, the airwaves have long been dominated by a right wing conspiracy to control all conversations concerning race, class and all things political.
There is not a city in America where you can't hear the melodramatic, melodious voice of Rush Limbaugh taking shots at the Left or Sean Hannity's arrogant whine espousing the doctrine of Conservative white world domination.
What is rarely discussed is the amount of political power that comes with the privilege of having unlimited access to the airwaves.
So when Rush Limbaugh says that he hopes President Obama fails, he ain't just whistlin' Dixie. He has the ability to galvanize millions of Rush-o-holics to do his evil biddings and make his anti-Obama dream turn into reality.
Despite the Right's wolf crying of victimization since the last election, make no mistake about it, the hand that controls the golden microphone rules the world.
It is past time that we seize control of the airwaves and I cannot think of a better time to do it than Juneteenth (the Black Independence Day.)
Although the Conservatives have had their panties in a bunch over the possible reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine (or similar legislation) that will allow folks like me to verbally pimp slap the smirk off of Bill O'Reilly's face every time he disses Hip Hop, this has not been a major topic in the African American community.
Also, many African Americans are totally in the dark when it comes to understanding the possible impact of a FCC Diversity Advisory Committee that could have Shaka Zulu's "Black Power Hour" going head to head with Mike Savage's "Savage Nation."
While this lack of information may be dismissed by the Right Wing as evidence that black folks would rather listen to Lil Wayne songs instead of the news, in reality, the ultra Conservative media have abused their powers to control the dissemination of information.
But no more!
Black folks need some Affirmative Action airtime.
We have to teach members of the Right a lesson that they should have learned back in kindergarten. Sometimes you have to share your toys.
This Juneteenth , the black community will start an underground railroad to get the information out about the various initiatives to insure African American access to the airwaves. The word will spread from city to city that there are new initiatives available under the Obama administration that could level the media playing field.
It is imperative that members of the African American community use the week of June 15th to contact their Congress folks and demand that the Fairness Doctrine be re-energized and make phone calls and send letters and emails to the FCC throwing our total support behind the Diversity Advisory Committee.
While more access to the media may not guarantee our making it to the Promised Land it will ,at least, supply us with the GPS navigation system to help us get there.
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
The Airwave Abolition Movement
Paul Scott
Back in 1865, two years and some change after Abe Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, the slaves in Texas finally got the memo that chattel slavery had been abolished. Better late than never I suppose. However, if the right wing talking heads had their way, black folks would still be picking cotton in 2009.
Next week , marks the beginning of Juneteenth week (June 15-19th) a time when African Americans celebrate the end of the last vestiges of that peculiar institution. It is a time to celebrate the freedoms of this country that were so long denied African Americans.
But some things are still in bondage; the airwaves.
While this country prides itself as being a diverse melting pot of ideals and a plethora of differing opinions, the airwaves have long been dominated by a right wing conspiracy to control all conversations concerning race, class and all things political.
There is not a city in America where you can't hear the melodramatic, melodious voice of Rush Limbaugh taking shots at the Left or Sean Hannity's arrogant whine espousing the doctrine of Conservative white world domination.
What is rarely discussed is the amount of political power that comes with the privilege of having unlimited access to the airwaves.
So when Rush Limbaugh says that he hopes President Obama fails, he ain't just whistlin' Dixie. He has the ability to galvanize millions of Rush-o-holics to do his evil biddings and make his anti-Obama dream turn into reality.
Despite the Right's wolf crying of victimization since the last election, make no mistake about it, the hand that controls the golden microphone rules the world.
It is past time that we seize control of the airwaves and I cannot think of a better time to do it than Juneteenth (the Black Independence Day.)
Although the Conservatives have had their panties in a bunch over the possible reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine (or similar legislation) that will allow folks like me to verbally pimp slap the smirk off of Bill O'Reilly's face every time he disses Hip Hop, this has not been a major topic in the African American community.
Also, many African Americans are totally in the dark when it comes to understanding the possible impact of a FCC Diversity Advisory Committee that could have Shaka Zulu's "Black Power Hour" going head to head with Mike Savage's "Savage Nation."
While this lack of information may be dismissed by the Right Wing as evidence that black folks would rather listen to Lil Wayne songs instead of the news, in reality, the ultra Conservative media have abused their powers to control the dissemination of information.
But no more!
Black folks need some Affirmative Action airtime.
We have to teach members of the Right a lesson that they should have learned back in kindergarten. Sometimes you have to share your toys.
This Juneteenth , the black community will start an underground railroad to get the information out about the various initiatives to insure African American access to the airwaves. The word will spread from city to city that there are new initiatives available under the Obama administration that could level the media playing field.
It is imperative that members of the African American community use the week of June 15th to contact their Congress folks and demand that the Fairness Doctrine be re-energized and make phone calls and send letters and emails to the FCC throwing our total support behind the Diversity Advisory Committee.
While more access to the media may not guarantee our making it to the Promised Land it will ,at least, supply us with the GPS navigation system to help us get there.
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Black Militants Take Over Conservative Station
Black Militants Take Over Conservative Station
Paul Scott
(NWSF News) Today a band of black militants calling themselves The Frighten Conservatives Crew (FCC for short) took over local Fox affiliate, WWYT in Des Moines, Iowa. The local authorities were tipped off by a listener who became suspicious when The Sean Hannity Show was interrupted by Public Enemy's "Fight the Power."
OK, I made that up.
But with the current Right Wing paranoia over the Federal Communication Committee's Diversity Committee and the rise of the dreaded Fairness Doctrine, this scenario is the Right's worst nightmare.
The FCC has set up a special group to put some color in talk radio and television much to the chagrin of those who want to keep the airwaves as white as Wonder Bread.
Come on guys. What's wrong with a little bit of soul during your morning commute ?
While there are hundreds of white talk show hosts and other media personalities across the country, there only a relative handful of African American opinion makers and yet fewer who comment from an Afrocentric perspective.
In every market you will find at least one white conservative talk show host. The trend really kicked off in the mid 90's as a reaction to Bill Clinton's Democratic Administration when Rush Limbaugh, G Gordon Liddy and others became overnight celebrities. Not to mention the increased popularity of Right Wing journalists that espoused the values of and spoke apologetically for white conservative Americans.
But who speaks for Black folks?
While there are a few nationally syndicated talk shows courtesy of Radio One’s Syndication One and a few other companies, it is safe to say that Bill O’Reilly reaches more homes than all the black commentators combined.
What is especially disturbing is the disappearance of local black talk programing. During the 70's, it wasn’t uncommon to have Bro. Righteous Raymond on WBLK giving the 411 on all the issues facing Black America. Even mainstream television stations in urban areas aired the obligatory Saturday night "Soul Sister Sheena’s Soul Sensation."
It must be noted , however, that this was not the result of benevolence on the part of white corporations but a necessary evil in an America that was not even a decade removed from the urban rebellions of the Black Power Era. White America needed someone to interpret the meaning of the sounds the African war drums still reverberating through the hoods. They just figured it was better to have black folks express their rage over the airwaves where it could be monitored and regulated by advertising dollars instead of having Black folks hold clandestine meeting in the back of barbershops orchestrating ways to "get whitey." But as the white paranoia of some great bloody uprising subsided, so did their need for black programming.
During the 90's, the post LA Rebellion multi cultural movement gave rise to a "universalism" that made all racial issues colorless. Also, one cannot forget the impact of FCC deregulation that allowed corporations to monopolize media markets and allowed public affairs programing to be almost totally eradicated.
Perhaps the main cause of the demise of black public affairs programming was the fear of the infinite possibilities of black talk by those in power (ie rich white folks) to the change social and political landscape of America.
This is best exemplified by the Right's hatred of Hip Hop. Contrary to popular belief, the first attacks on Hip Hop were not leveled against the "gangsta rappers" but the overtly political rap of Public Enemy and Sister Souljah and during that period, full time gangsta's and part time revolutionaries Tupac Shakur, Ice T and Ice Cube. If given a choice most Right Wingers would choose the nonpolitical rap of 50 Cent instead of the problack politics of Dead Prez, anyday.
What has scared the pants off of white America is the potential for black talk to galvanize the masses of black people toward social action whether deliberate or accidental as was the case when the Magnificent Montague catch phrase "Burn Baby Burn," unintentionally, became the battle cry of the 1965 Watts Rebellion.
It is past time that we begin to see more black faces on Fox News and heard more black voices on talk radio.
It must be emphasized here that we don't just want "any" black person on the air but one who speaks from an authentically "black" perspective.
So, don't try to pull a fast one and hire a Ward Connerly wanna be just to fill a quota.
Dogonit! We want the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Power Hour everyday, at noon !
A new day is coming Conservatives. So be afraid, be very afraid.
So, the next time that you are riding merrily along and hear Malcolm X's "Ballot or the Bullet" speech instead of Mike Savage's Savage Nation realize that the revolution is at your front gate.
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Paul Scott
(NWSF News) Today a band of black militants calling themselves The Frighten Conservatives Crew (FCC for short) took over local Fox affiliate, WWYT in Des Moines, Iowa. The local authorities were tipped off by a listener who became suspicious when The Sean Hannity Show was interrupted by Public Enemy's "Fight the Power."
OK, I made that up.
But with the current Right Wing paranoia over the Federal Communication Committee's Diversity Committee and the rise of the dreaded Fairness Doctrine, this scenario is the Right's worst nightmare.
The FCC has set up a special group to put some color in talk radio and television much to the chagrin of those who want to keep the airwaves as white as Wonder Bread.
Come on guys. What's wrong with a little bit of soul during your morning commute ?
While there are hundreds of white talk show hosts and other media personalities across the country, there only a relative handful of African American opinion makers and yet fewer who comment from an Afrocentric perspective.
In every market you will find at least one white conservative talk show host. The trend really kicked off in the mid 90's as a reaction to Bill Clinton's Democratic Administration when Rush Limbaugh, G Gordon Liddy and others became overnight celebrities. Not to mention the increased popularity of Right Wing journalists that espoused the values of and spoke apologetically for white conservative Americans.
But who speaks for Black folks?
While there are a few nationally syndicated talk shows courtesy of Radio One’s Syndication One and a few other companies, it is safe to say that Bill O’Reilly reaches more homes than all the black commentators combined.
What is especially disturbing is the disappearance of local black talk programing. During the 70's, it wasn’t uncommon to have Bro. Righteous Raymond on WBLK giving the 411 on all the issues facing Black America. Even mainstream television stations in urban areas aired the obligatory Saturday night "Soul Sister Sheena’s Soul Sensation."
It must be noted , however, that this was not the result of benevolence on the part of white corporations but a necessary evil in an America that was not even a decade removed from the urban rebellions of the Black Power Era. White America needed someone to interpret the meaning of the sounds the African war drums still reverberating through the hoods. They just figured it was better to have black folks express their rage over the airwaves where it could be monitored and regulated by advertising dollars instead of having Black folks hold clandestine meeting in the back of barbershops orchestrating ways to "get whitey." But as the white paranoia of some great bloody uprising subsided, so did their need for black programming.
During the 90's, the post LA Rebellion multi cultural movement gave rise to a "universalism" that made all racial issues colorless. Also, one cannot forget the impact of FCC deregulation that allowed corporations to monopolize media markets and allowed public affairs programing to be almost totally eradicated.
Perhaps the main cause of the demise of black public affairs programming was the fear of the infinite possibilities of black talk by those in power (ie rich white folks) to the change social and political landscape of America.
This is best exemplified by the Right's hatred of Hip Hop. Contrary to popular belief, the first attacks on Hip Hop were not leveled against the "gangsta rappers" but the overtly political rap of Public Enemy and Sister Souljah and during that period, full time gangsta's and part time revolutionaries Tupac Shakur, Ice T and Ice Cube. If given a choice most Right Wingers would choose the nonpolitical rap of 50 Cent instead of the problack politics of Dead Prez, anyday.
What has scared the pants off of white America is the potential for black talk to galvanize the masses of black people toward social action whether deliberate or accidental as was the case when the Magnificent Montague catch phrase "Burn Baby Burn," unintentionally, became the battle cry of the 1965 Watts Rebellion.
It is past time that we begin to see more black faces on Fox News and heard more black voices on talk radio.
It must be emphasized here that we don't just want "any" black person on the air but one who speaks from an authentically "black" perspective.
So, don't try to pull a fast one and hire a Ward Connerly wanna be just to fill a quota.
Dogonit! We want the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Power Hour everyday, at noon !
A new day is coming Conservatives. So be afraid, be very afraid.
So, the next time that you are riding merrily along and hear Malcolm X's "Ballot or the Bullet" speech instead of Mike Savage's Savage Nation realize that the revolution is at your front gate.
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
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