Kevin Chappell of Ebony and Jet magazines was among seven black-press journalists who flew with President Obama. "Immediately, I noticed a difference from my first flight six years ago," he wrote. "More Black folks." (Credit: Johnson Publishing Co.)
Obama Flies to N.Y. With 7 Black-Press Journalists
Seven journalists from the black press received an unprecedented audience with President Obama Thursday as they rode in Air Force One from Washington to New York for Obama’s speech at the 100th anniversary conference of the NAACP.
During the interview, Obama put cold water on the notion that with his election, the United States has entered a "post-racial era."
"Herb Boyd of Amsterdam News asked the President how he felt about the dichotomy of Sasha and Malia Obama being the First Daughters while Black children in Philadelphia were recently turned away from a private swimming pool," Cynthia Gordy of Essence magazine reported. "Obama said it underscored the fact that his election has not, in fact, ushered the country in a so-called ‘post-racial’ era. ‘On the other hand,’ he said, ‘The biggest barriers that young African-Americans face today have less to do with blatant discrimination and more to do with long-term inequalities.’"
Nearly all of the seven wrote online accounts of the experience.
"It would not be compromising my status as a fair and balanced journalist to admit that a wave of pride washed over me," Derek T. Dingle, editor in chief of Black Enterprise magazine, wrote. "I had come a long way from my hometown newspaper in Norfolk, Virginia. More importantly, African Americans had trekked an incredible distance over the last century to possess this level of power – and literally have a front-row seat covering it.
"The trip started in the White House press briefing room where I met my fellow travelers – TV One’s Roland Martin, American Urban Radio’s April Ryan, Ebony’s Kevin Chappell, Essence Magazine’s Cynthia Gordy, New York Amsterdam News’ Herb Boyd and BET’s Pamela Gentry. When the van that carried me and my colleagues from the White House arrived at Andrews Air Force Base, my heart began to leap out of my chest as I viewed the huge blue-and-white 747 jetliner in front of me.
"We didn’t board the plane from the rear with the rest of the White House press corps. We climbed the stairs in the front of the plane-the same stairs as the president. As we entered the plane, I was immediately awed by the stately interior. It smelled like power. We were then taken to the guest area – a row of brown leather seats and elegant dining tables. This is the same area where dignitaries and the presidential guests are seated-most recently, baseball legend Willie Mays who accompanied President Obama to Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. Chapell, Ryan and Gentry had traveled on Air Force One before, but never from this vantage point.
"VIP members of the White House press corps.
"It was an hour and a half that I will remember for the rest of my life."
- Herb Boyd, New York Amsterdam News: Black Reporters Roundtable on Air Force One
- Kevin Chappell, ebonyjet.com: A Day Trip with the President: Can I Catch a Ride to the NAACP?
- Derek T. Dingle, Black Enterprise: On Air Force One with President Obama
- Pamela Gentry, BET.com: Obama Fields Questions Aboard Air Force One
- Cynthia Gordy, Essence: President Obama on What Black America Needs
- Cynthia Gordy, Essence: The Biggest Issue for African-Americans, According to the President…
- Cynthia Gordy, Essence:¬†Just Another Day…Flying on Air Force One with the President
- April D. Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks: History! President Obama Meets With Black Media Aboard Air Force One
New York Times had one interpretation on front page; another inside.
One Speech Before NAACP, But Different Interpretations
President Obama spoke to the NAACP about the persistence of racism but the need for African Americans not to let that slow them down. Moreover, the words came from the nation’s first black president on the venerable civil rights organization’s 100th anniversary.
A lot to squeeze into a headline. How it was handled by news organizations said much about those who covered the event and the editors they work with.
The New York Times, which ran a front page photo of Obama speaking to the crowd, referred to a story inside. The front-page caption read, "President Barack Obama, addressing the 100th anniversary conference of the NAACP, said he owes his ascent to those who fought in the civil rights movement.
But the headline on the story said simply, "Obama Tells Fellow Blacks: ‘No Excuses’ for Failure."
Here are some others:
"Race war still rages ‚Äî Obama tackles inequality on 100th anniversary" (The Daily Telegraph, Australia). "Passionate Obama hails black history, urges ‘new mindset’ and "Fiery Obama hails black history, urges ‘new mindset’" (Agence France-Presse). "Obama deplores race discrimination" (Al-Jazeera). "Obama tells NAACP more yet to do on civil rights" and "Obama: Civil rights leaders paved way for him" (Associated Press.)
"Obama Marks NAACP Centennial; President Points to History, urges Goal of Wider Equality" (Baltimore Sun). "At NAACP gala, fiery words from Obama" (Boston Globe). "Obama visit a milestone for NAACP; President pays tribute on group’s centennial" (Chicago Tribune). "Obama calls for ‘far better’ education for black children" (Deutsche Presse-Agentu). "Obama to NAACP: Journey is not over" (Detroit Free Press). "President Obama hails NAACP’s centennial; Saying its forebears made his presidency possible, he urges the group to keep fighting for rights for everyone." (Los Angeles Times). "SCHOOL THE NEW COOL; O TO PARENTS: IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT RAP" (New York Post). "Obama: Thanks; Credits election to NAACP’s past leaders; Tells group’s convention barriers to success persist" (Newsday). "President notes racial progress to NAACP; But ‘structural inequalities’ remain, he says." (USA Today). "Obama says his life proves possibilities" (Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk). "President says discrimination in U.S. is at lowest level ever" (Washington Times). "Obama Speaks Of Blacks’ Struggle; Disparities Remain, He Says to NAACP" (Washington Post).
Not to mention that Obama mentioned his visit last weekend to the Door of No Return at a Ghanaian castle, where Africans departed as slaves for the New World, noting that a church stood above the dungeon. "Tells you something about saying one thing and doing another," he said.
The stories also differed in their interpretations of Obama’s demeanor and the intended audiences of his remarks.
In Britain’s Guardian newspaper, Michael Tomasky wrote a story¬†with this headline, "Obama gave two speeches last night, apparently."
At least.
Paper Considers NAACP Membership a "Personal Choice"
"After years of putting it off, I went ahead and bought a lifetime membership in the NAACP this week. It’s the smartest $750 I’ve spent in a long time," Errol Louis, editorial board member and columnist for the New York Daily News, told readers on Sunday.
That’s quite a statement about how times have changed. In earlier eras and in some parts of the country, the NAACP was considered nearly a subversive organization. Even if it’s gone mainstream, it still makes headlines. But NAACP membership is not a problem at the News, Louis told Journal-isms.
"At the News, joining the NAACP is akin to selecting a church or political party affiliation, or making a charitable contribution: it’s a personal choice that would only kick in as a concern if I were holding a leadership position or otherwise identified with the group’s activities. Even in such a case, the main issue would be disclosure rather than membership," he said.
Louis said he participated in a News editorial welcoming the NAACP to New York for this week’s convention.
News representatives did not respond to inquiries.
- Ta-Nehisi Coates, the Nation: The Trials of Benjamin Jealous
thedailyvoice.com: NAACP moves away from civil rights
Bruce A. Dixon, Black Agenda Report: The Two NAACPs and a Century of Struggle
Jeff Johnson blog: National Convention: 100 Miles and running?
Jeff Kisseloff, the Nation: Ties That Bind: The Nation and the NAACP
Errol Louis, New York Daily News: In NAACP speech, President Obama gives inspirational nod to history, but focus is on today
Deborah Mathis, blackamericaweb.com: The NAACP seems to have found its stride
Mary Mitchell, Chicago Sun-Times: NAACP has role: Hold Obama accountable
Dayo Olopade, theRoot.com: Black to the Future? The NAACP discovers the Internet.
Elmer Smith, Philadelphia Daily News:¬†As racism thrusts more into ‘the game,’ NAACP is there
Jill Tubman, Jack and Jill Politics: The NAACP Doesn’t Care About Black People
Kai Wright, theRoot.com: Bending Toward Justice: Ben Jealous is right. The NAACP’s task in the 21st century is to turn racial equality into racial justice.
Kai Wright, theRoot.com: The Obama Doctrine: Racism’s Real; Deal With It
Final Call Reports from Presidential Trip to Ghana
Richard B. Muhammad, editor in chief of the Nation of Islam’s newspaper, the Final Call, was among those reporting from Accra, Ghana, last weekend for President Obama’s trip to Ghana. Muhammad told Journal-isms he also called in from Accra to the "Warren Ballentine Show" on Radio One.
"Despite the optimism, there were voices that questioned whether Mr. Obama could change U.S. policy from paternal and exploitive domination to equal partnership," Muahmmad wrote.
"Part of the discussion was fueled not only by the general exploitation of Africa, but also by the United States and CIA role in the overthrow of Pan Africanist visionary Dr. Nkrumah in 1966. Analysts accepted Mr. Obama’s sincerity but debated whether the United States ‚Äî with its no permanent friends or enemies, just permanent interests philosophy ‚Äî would be willing to change. Some expressed concern for Mr. Obama’s safety should he move too far away from the manipulation and exploitation of Africa.
‚ÄúA leopard does not change its spots,‚Äù warned Dr. Hamet Maulana, during a program broadcast from Vibe FM radio in Accra’s Pyramid Building. Host Kwaku Horford moderated the discussion as Dr. Maulana, A. Akbar Muhammad of the Nation of Islam and ‚ÄúAfrica and the World‚Äù columnist, Timothy Ihemadu of the Nigeria- based International Organization for Sustainable Development, analyst Ibrahim Adjei and G.A. Pele, Ph.D., of Pelgha University in Accra, explored ‚ÄúThe Real Visit Behind the Visit of President Obama.‚Äù
The Ghana trip was raised by black-press reporters traveling Thursday with Obama on Air Force One.
"Foreign policy and Africa were among several issues posed by April Ryan of American Urban Radio, and the president listened intently, Herb Boyd wrote for the Amsterdam News. ‚Äú’In terms of foreign policy, that‚Äôs one of the reasons I just came back from Ghana,’ he stated, ‘and that was to focus attention on the fact that Africa was not just a side note in our foreign policy, but a central concern of our administration.’ The encouragement of economic development and good governance are among some of the key points in providing aid to African nations, Obama stressed, and he mainly reiterated a policy he outlined during his speech before the Ghanaian parliament."
- Bill Fletcher Jr., Washington Informer: Obama and Africa
Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN: Continental divide separates Africans, African-Americans
Les Payne blog: Why Ghana? Why Now?
Ron Walters, National Newspaper Publishers Association: Obama on African Responsibility
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DeWayne Wickham, USA Today:¬†African leaders can’t turn blind eye to Sudan crimes
Segregationist Editorials Resonated Into the ’70s
A Virginia newspaper expressed¬†regret Thursday for supporting a systematic campaign by the state’s white political leaders to maintain separate public schools for blacks and whites in the 1950s," Larry O’Dell wrote. for the Associated Press.
"The Richmond Times-Dispatch acknowledged in an editorial that it and its now-defunct sister newspaper, The News Leader, played a central role in the "dreadful doctrine" of Massive Resistance. "The record fills us with regret," the newspaper said.
"The newspaper took the unusual step of promoting the editorial on its front page. The editorial was published on the eve of a conference in Richmond marking the 50th anniversary of the end of Massive Resistance, which was dismantled by a 1959 court ruling."
On the e-mail list of the National Association of Black Journalists, Charles Robinson of Maryland Public Television said the ramifications of the editorial stance lasted well beyond 1959.
"As a college student during the mid 70’s many of the same editorial writers were instructors at Virginia Commonwealth University," he wrote. "It was common knowledge among those of us matriculating at the school that our worth would not be determined by them. We formed lasting relationships supporting each other.
"A year ago I attended a VCU Mass Communications reception in Washington where I had a chance to meet the current chair. I express to her my deep concern the school continually gave a special honors to those who defended the practice of ‘massive resistance.’ I explained I was appalled when I received an invitation to honor former Sen. Harry Byrd who also ran a paper in the Shenandoah Valley. As cub reporter he told me ‘he would never allow a Black federal judge in the state of Virginia because none were qualified.’
"My final words to the chair were ‘I’d be interested in coming back to talk with the students because VCU taught me one thing, ‘how to be strong when faced with racial adversity.’"
He told Journal-isms: "I gave her my card and told her to, ‘call me.’ I got the stare which said, ‘scary Black man let’s not invite him.’ I’ve not received a call."
