Has the Black Press Disappeared During the Obama Presidency?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins
Glen Ford from BlackAgendaReport.com wrote an insightful review of the recent appearance of Obama Administration Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett at the National Association of Black Journalists convention. Ford makes the point that the attendees at the convention were more concerned with being a part of the presidential fan club than doing the hard, objective work that comes with clear journalistic analysis.
Ford a 40-year veteran of the journalist profession, says this:
“This is what often passes for journalism in Black America: an infantile obsession with the inner world of the Obamas that is wholly disconnected from the real world of economic policy, and of war and peace. Such reporters become indistinguishable from the antics of Steve Harvey, the professional media ignoramus, and the schoolyard politics of syndicated disc jockey Tom Joyner.”
Ford goes on to make the accurate point that the job of a journalist is not to befriend members of the political establishment, at least not in a way that undermines their ability to be objective. He mentions that no one challenged Jarrett’s remarks in the way that an adviser might be challenged when white journalists are in the room. Ford also says that the driving factor behind the docile nature of African American journalists is that many of them are hoping and wishing for jobs in mainstream media. If you’ll notice, the black faces on MSNBC (Melissa Harris-Perry and Al Sharpton) are known for their staunch support of the Obama Administration.
Ford is correct in his assessment of what’s happened to black media in the age of Obama. When one considers nearly all of the major black online news media outlets, I can’t recall any of them publishing anything other than content that was favorable to the Obama Administration. In fact, I dare to say that some of them are affiliated with the White House in a way that says that they would lose either access to valuable contacts or financial support if they were to confront the administration.
My scholarly background leads me to agree with everything that Ford has said about the state of black media under Obama. As a professor, I am accustomed to objectively grading a student based on his/her performance, not whether or not I like that student as a person. This influences the manner by which I refer to President Obama: I can praise him Tuesday and slam him Wednesday with no hard feelings in between. But I wonder if its even possible for any journalist (I am a scholar and commentator, not a professionally-trained journalist) to maintain objectivity when everyone is now being forced to pick a team. Media has become a Crib-Blood gang war, where you either choose a side or get caught in the crossfire.
The decision of many black journalists to lie down on the job is not much different from what’s been happening on MSNBC and Fox News. Only CNN has tried to go after that unrealistic thing called “the truth,” and it’s led to them having their worst ratings in 21 years. So, perhaps everything has become political, which means that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find networks that encourage viewers to form their own opinions instead of playing for a political football team. Also, MSNBC’s decision to reward Harris-Perry (a professor) and Sharpton (a preacher) with their own shows, while ignoring seasoned journalists, reduces the incentive for anyone to engage in meaningful journalism.
My argument is that any African American voter who wants what’s best for his/her family and community should seek truth and think for themselves. It makes little sense to become anti-Obama just because a Right Winger tells you to do so. But it makes just as little sense for you to vote for Obama because Steve Harvey said so. If our experiences in Africa and during slavery taught us anything, it’s that someone isn’t necessarily your ally just because they’re black.
Even though he was a little late to the party, I give Roland Martin credit for using his platform to speak some truth to power. His recent tweets about holding the Obama Administration accountable should be applauded, for he is moving against the grain. He also chose to speak out against the appointment of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court after her racially-discriminatory hiring record was revealed. So, some journalists are taking their professions seriously and not simply seeking to join the Barack and Michelle Obama fan club.
For two years, our nation was high on “Barack Obama Crunk Juice,” and the party seemed to be jumping. Then, as time wore on, reality started to set in and our community has begun to sober up to see that we are worse off economically than we’ve been since Biggie and Pac made their debut albums. It will be after the party when the black history police show up that we are held accountable for our actions. When Obama is no longer president and has rode off into the sunset, history will remember who buckled to the fad and who remained true to the purpose. Glen Ford is one of those people.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To receive Dr. Boyce commentary in your email, please click here.
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This is off topic – and a reply to Dr Boyce regarding the death of his brother / uncle.
I’m so sorry, Dr Boyce, to hear of his how his life was plagued by what seems to have been, a destiny of sadness. I doubt that many of us could ever truly heal from the kind of experiences he endured. I think the plan has always been to destroy people and I’m sorry your “brother” was a victim. The work you do is the greatest gift and tribute to him (and thousands like him) that anyone could contribute.
My sentiments exactly.
Dr. Boyce,
Your Brother’s death should not be used to profess ideas that
are baseless and lack the one thing all Americans need to do…..take responcability for your actions.
I agree at 18, prison is vicious, at any age actually, but in there so young creates severe problems. Did he do a violent
crime, or was it one of those who just should have been on probation, regardless the court systems in America are flawed.
My Brother was also put in prison for 2 years at an early age.
I sent him money, things and even visited, but he did the crime
and suffered the consequences. A flawed system hurt someone so young to send him to a meatgrinder (especially a non-violent crime) but he also took an active in his own demise.
I admire you and truely feel for your loss, but please don’t play the blame game, for we are all accountable for the deeds we do.
This article is pitch perfect!!! And for the record, I was critical and had my eyes opened on the politics of Senator now President Obama, while most of the people mentioned in both yours and Mr.Ford’s accurate description of black journalists and personalities selling the swag of the Obama’s, and the historical significance of electing a black (biracial) president. I recognized the superficiality reality early because it was do off- putting, and being in the military, there was no room for illusions.
Yes, the black journalists have fallen down in their jobs and have hurt their credibility for many years to come. The black community has suffered greatly under this president, and he’s no better than a Republican.
No one is perfect, and that includes President Obama; however, I believe some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Everything is getting thrown into the mix black/white/biraciial, democrat/liberal/republican/conservative/independent. The fact is we are The Human Race, a part of God’s creation, who came from one human source, Adam & Eve (for those who believe in God). President Obama cannot, I repeat CANNOT fix us or everything wrong in the black, Latin, white, or any other community.
Instead of the constant third party rhetoric about what you think he has or has not done find out first hand. Go to real grassroots publications like The City Limits http://www.citylimits.org. We are constantly complaining about what someone else is or is not doing for us, when the real issue is: What are we doing for ourselves? What are we doing in our immediate environment to help our communities to get better?
i am a Chaplain in a maximum security facility for women, and many moons ago I was a correction officer. I also have a son who spent a considerable amount of time in federal prison. So I am not just blowing hot air when I say that being put in prison may be a tool used by a racist societal policy but staying down and out is the individual’s choice.
I have seen too many people get their four year degree while being incarcerated (the degree does not say the prison they were in, it says the college they graduated from), come out and never look back. People who was hard headed and landed in prison (like my son) but spent the time there reorganizing his or her thinking, developed good work ethics, and came home, put their heads into the grind and went full steam ahead to success.
Lets stop the rhetoric of blame and get to work doing our part to make society better, lets get off our complaining “assets” get our “butts” out of the way and DO SOMETHING. Don’t know how? Go to http://www.citylimits.org or theguaranteed24.com and see what these productive people are doing. Be a part of the solution; don’t just talk about the problem.
I too would like to offer condolence to Dr. Boyce and the entire Donald Crouch family. It’s always difficult loosing someone in spite of how they lived their lives.
But, as to the broader point of Dr. Boyce comment; there are literally millions of Donald Crouch’s out there; many are our own family members as in the case with Dr. Boyce.
Predominantly, Black Men disparately ensnared politically, socially, financially and economically chained with despair, hopelessness and depression often find themselves in the criminal justice system; perhaps for millions of Black Men an injustice criminal system.
However, one in the system is it very difficult and more often that not ruin a life forever; any time served incarcerated or perhaps even most devastating is time served after incarceration; this is one area of the system that seriously needs amending.
JCS
weve been had, hoodwinked—-in housestyle. O ripped off kids(Pell cuts),elders and dependents(ssi redux’s) the miserably poor—(home heat asst chopped). served the rich and full term abortion kicked that in to serve RABID white women. now genuflecting to gays. not us,we are in his back pocket. F—–HIM!!!!
weve been had, hoodwinked—-in housestyle.
O ripped off kids(Pell cuts),elders and dependents(ssi redux’s) the miserably poor—(home heat asst chopped).
served the rich and full term abortion kicked that in to serve RABID white women. now genuflecting to gays. not us,we are in his back pocket. F—–HIM!!!!
Dr. Watkins this was a great article and I want to also send my condolences for the lost of your brother. Like @elrancho said, I too doubt any of us could heal from the horrific experiences your brother experienced while in jail and the hardships of trying to put his life together after prison with all the obstacles PURPOSEFULLY set in place to make it harder for felons. May Donald rest in peace.
I think they have asked as many hard questions as they asked President Obama, predecessors–that is, all of the white presidents before himWhat is it so elementry about the “crabs” that they want President to address their ‘forty-acres and a mule’?
We weren’t standing on tip-toe waiting on black reporters to ask Clinton about sending the Haitians back, or while he did nothing to stop the genocide of the Rwandans against each other, we were silent when he insulted Sistah Soulja, and we said nothing when he won the white vote with welfare reform
Did we hold Bush accountable for the drowning of New Orleans and over 1000 of its people? What did we say anything about his
war started on a hoax? And the billions that could have brought blacks up from poverty, where was the accoutability then?
I never heard so many cries of accountable until black folks got them a whipping boy. What did we call accountablility when those white men were president?
You are pathetically ignorant of history of black journalism. I suggest you do some basic research before spewing the garbage you just posted. The point of this article is that black journalist in the past DID IN FACT HOLD PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS ACCOUNTABLE, and the black journalists have not done the same with the current president now because some are dazzled by the swag if the black president, clamoring more face time with him, while keeping the black community blinded to the reality of this president’s lackluster push and support of the black agenda. This president is THE FIRST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF POLITICS to ENJOYED 95% of the black vote in the Democratic party, the largest of any other group, and he’s ignored, disregarded, and dismissed concerns of the his LARGEST VOTING CONSTITUENCY.
Black journalist have squandered their opportunity to be credible and objective, and they’ve failed at their jobs to inform, not become unofficial public relations for this president.
Thank you for your commemt, well said. Everything is the President’s fault, guess Bush did nothing wrong in thier eyesight.
My sympathy to Dr. Watkins in the lost of his brother. I wish all blacks and other Americans would read Michelle Anderson, The New Jim Crow. It is simply awful what Bill Clinton 3 strikes and you’re out law has done to the black community.
My computer is acting up-it is difficult to type these posts. Anyway, please push her book Dr. Watkins, it is the most informative book I have read in a long timed!
Seems to me EVEN using, “Watkins logic”… that this is a no brainer. What is good for me and my family quite simply is NOT Mitt Romney. That our President Obama is not perfect, is a given. However, Romney is a total and utter disaster for black people and if you Dr Watkins are having trouble with any part of that as a concept, PLEASE – You should return all of those degrees you so repeatedly and loudly proclaim. Somewhere in your, “scholarly background” you got ripped off.
Dr. Watkins it is a very clever tactic you’re using, campaign for Mitt Romney without even mentioning in his name. If you support the Republican candidate which by now is very obvious, why don’t you come out with it? However, please tell us specifically why in your opinion Mitt Romney along with the likes of Karl Rove, the Koch brothers, Eric Cantor, Mitch McConnell, and Rush Limbaugh are better for black America than President Obama and the Democratic party. Until you do I can only conclude that you are suffering from the crab mentality.
I totally agree Spencer. Look at the top of this page and you will see what exactly what I mean. “Mitt Romney Official Site” is right at the top asking for a $5.00 donation (in bold print). Where is anything about President Obama at the bottom, just saying vote Obam. Dr Watkins may say he is voting for Obama; however, all of his posts are designed to lead people to Romney.
Thank God for the Black Agenda Report for telling the truth and nothing but the truth about President Barack Hussein Obama and the lackey’s and yes men and women in the so-called Negro Press.
It is one of the biggest lies to say that who ever points out the lack of Obama doing anything positive for Afrikans in the US is a Mitt Romney supporter and voter.Obama has no free pass on truthful criticisms and playing the you are a Romney supporter for not supporting Obama is not going to work with intelligent people with integrity.Romney is a racist like most Europeans in the US so we must fight him.That however does not mean that we must support Obama who is doing the bidding of the racist downpressors in and outside of the US.
Dr. Watkins I am sorry about what happened to your elder brother Donald Couch.Too many of our brothers and sisters are destroyed from an early age by the racists in the jails and prisons.Only the stupid or heartless do not know that this is a major form of genocide perpetrated on us.
i HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU AND STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP BLACK PEOPLE. i WILL NOT BE TUNING IN TO YOU THERE WERE PEOPLE IN SLAVERY LIKE YOU. i WILL BE SUPORTING THE PRESIDENT AND WHY ARE YOU SUPPORTING SOMEONE THAT HAS YOUR NOOSE ALREADY READY FOR YOU. yOU ARE GETTING PAID BY THE RACIST. PRAY AND VOTE OBAMA 2012.
If Dr. Watkins Is A “Silent” Mitt Romney Supporter, Why Can’t He Just Man-Up And Say It? Look Closely, Barack Obama, Is (African) American, Not Black American. He’s Never Lived The “Black” Experience As The Majority Of Black-African-Americans. Give The Brother Some Credit. As Least He Didn’t Marry A White Woman. If He Had, He’d Wouldn’t Be Facing The Black-Lash He’s Faced Since He Announced His Candicy for President.
If Dr. Bryce Watkins, Is As Smart And Intelligent As He Believes He Is, He Would Have Matriculated A Doctorate In Economics. Why? Because you Can Literally Count On One Hand, How Many Black African Amercands Has Attained A PhD In Economics.
Excellent article!
“My argument is that any African American voter who wants what’s best for his/her family and community should seek truth and think for themselves. It makes little sense to become anti-Obama just because a Right Winger tells you to do so. But it makes just as little sense for you to vote for Obama because Steve Harvey said so. If our experiences in Africa and during slavery taught us anything, it’s that someone isn’t necessarily your ally just because they’re black”
” He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it”-MLK
Thanks Doc. MLK and Brother Malcolm would be proud and encouraging of you. Please persist. We need you. One.