This morning I heard a promo for the Black Agenda hosted by Ed Schultz. Two things stood out to me: 1. What is the black agenda 2. Are there any black anchors at MSNBC? I know the answer to the second question, but not the first one. To create a black agenda would mean there is a group think within the community and that is simply not the case. In the 50s and 60s black people fought for civil rights. That was something tangible that was pervasive across the scope of the entire race, but that is not the case now. Blacks do have the highest rate of unemployment. It is 15% but no black agenda is going to solve that problem. It will be interesting to see the agenda, their findings and answers, but will there be more questions than answers.
Advertisement
The FIRST thing I saw wrong was, as you stated, the assumption there is a “black agenda”. When is the show on the “white agenda”? the “Asian agenda”? I resent the condescending attitude that all blacks think alike and want the same things, and heck probably all look alike too. It is just as frustrating as the “Black in America” series that CNN does. These networks trot out a lot of the same black faces, usually Civil Rights Era leaders or folks that were back benchers then and have done little of substance since (Like Sharpton, Jackson, etc.).
As far as Ed. Shultz hosting this, I have to stick to my more Libertarian side by saying you don’t have to be black to talk about being black. To have that requirement is as racist as requiring that you have to be white to talk about being white, Asian to discuss being Asian, etc. If a personal testimony isn’t required, any competent journalist can host the thing. I never, EVER watch MSNBC for any extended period of time, but since I have issues with how these things usually tend towards the “poor,downtrodden, victimized by racism, can’t get ahead without government” side, I’ll DVR this so I can miss it at a more convenient time.
Perhaps it’s an effort to capture some of the CNN viewership; according to a Nielsen study, Blacks watch 7 more hours of tv then Whites. Despite what one may think of the “Black in America” series they seem to be rather popular, doubt highly CNN would continue to air a series that wasn’t. With regard to who’s hosting, yes I thought it was a rather unusual choice of Ed Schultz; Tamron Hall wasn’t available? As Elogam stated you don’t have to have someone Black to host the thing but, to me, optically it just looks…well; odd. I think it’s an issue of credibility; certainly someone like Anderson Cooper or perhaps even Rachel Maddow would be seen as someone who is able to be a little more “relatable” to the black experience. If it’s about viewership, and I can’t see it being anything else, then having someone that in general who is looked upon as more plausible sort of speak, is important. After all if it truly doesn’t matter who’s host, why not get Joe Scarborough, Mark Halperin or Pat Buchanan; and what’s the likely hood that their target audience would tune in with one of these gentlemen hosting?
don’t kill the messenger,the state of BLACK AMERICA is pretty sad.we need all the help we can get,not charity but just a hand.let ed schutz do his job then cricize or praise the show later.the main thang is that we are talking about our issues,and there quite a few.go ed go keep it real
Press Release details:
NEW YORK—March 30, 2011—On Sunday, April 10, MSNBC anchor Ed Schultz will host a two-hour panel discussion with the National Action Network’s Rev. Al Sharpton titled, “A Stronger America: The Black Agenda” beginning at noon ET. The panel comes at the end of the National Action Network’s annual summit, and will feature prominent African American leaders from across the U.S. who are committed to furthering critical issues impacting their community. Schultz and the panel will discuss pertinent topics affecting African Americans such as politics, modern civil rights, healthcare, education and how we can help build a stronger African American community. MSNBC will ask the tough questions: What is the Black Agenda? What can the African American community do to help itself? How does the Black agenda help to further the overall American agenda?
Leading up to the panel discussion on April 10, MSNBC will air daily segments across its dayside news coverage, bringing in diverse voices from across the political spectrum and focusing on issues that affect the African American community.
A promo of “A Stronger America: The Black Agenda” can be seen here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42341326#42341326
MSNBC Contact: Weesie Vieira, Weesie.Vieira@nbcuni.com
National Action Network Contact: Rachel Noerdlinger, Rachel@noerdlingermedia.com Information on the National Action Network’s national convention is available at http://www.nationalactionnetwork.net.
Surprise, surprise! There’s a camera there, so of course Al Sharpton will be present! When will these panels get serious and invite more diverse voices. You’ll never see people like Larry Elder, Jesse Lee Peterson, Thomas Sowell, etc. invited to these forums. These people aren’t the droids they’re looking for. They want people to perpetuate the stereotype that all blacks are downtrodden by the evil white man, and that we need to pump massive amounts of money and special programs into the black “community” to make up for the years and years of racial discrimination that has been endured even to this very day. MSNBC in particular would not want to hear that times, although not perfect, have never been better by and large for the black community when it comes to opportunity. They do not want to hear that the major problem with the black communities is not racism but black on black crime, babies having babies, 50% dropout rates, drugs, lack of a strong traditional family structure, the need for strong black men who want to be role models, financial education of the masses, and a big heaping helping of self-discipline. That won’t make things perfect, but it will go a long way towards righting some of the wrongs.