#TalkRadio – August 6: Election 2024, The Media and Race: Racist Attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris and NABJ Debacle

SPEAKERS:

Dr. Stephanie Myers: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Dr. Stephanie Myers is Vice President of R.J. Myers Publishing Company; President of the Positive Change Foundation; and, National Co-Chair of Black Women for Positive Change. As a book publisher with her husband, she focuses on little known Black history stories that are neglected parts of American history. As one of the leaders of Black Women for Positive Change she has led 13 Annual Months of Non-Violence. These annual global events are dedicated to “Changing the Culture of Violence in America, and the World,” and promoting voter turnout in upcoming elections. She is a Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joe Biden.

Wilmer J. Leon, III, Ph.D.: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Wilmer J. Leon III, Ph.D. is a Political Scientist whose primary areas of expertise are Black Politics, American Government, and Public Policy.  For 11 years he was a Lecturer/Teaching Associate in the Political Science Department at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Currently, Dr. Leon is a nationally broadcast radio talk show host on SiriusXM Satellite radio channel 126, nationally syndicated columnist, and regular political commentator on national and international news programs. Dr. Leon is a regular contributor to TruthOut.org, The Root.com, Politics In Color.com, BlackStar News.com, Black Agenda Report, Black Politics on the Web, and over 200 newspapers and other websites across the country.  He can also be seen as a regular contributor and analyst on TV-One’s News On Now with Roland Martin, Press-TV, and RT TV.  He was a contributing author to Democratic Destiny and the District of Columbia (Lexington Books, 2010). His latest book is “Politics Another Perspective: Commentary and Analysis on Race, War, Ethics, and the American Political Landscape.

INTRODUCTION:

Hi Igniters For Change! The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled, “Election 2024, The Media and Race: Racist Attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris and NABJ Debacle”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and will feature special guests Dr. Stephanie Myers and Wilmer J. Leon, III, Ph.D. to discuss the media’s poor performance in covering the heightened racial aspects of this election season, especially due to the ascendency of Vice President Kamala Harris as the presumptive Democratic nominee. We will also discuss the much-publicized National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) debacle centering around the decision to have former President Donald Trump at their Annual Conference last week. We will look hard at the impact of this ill-fated decision and Trump’s outrageous racial attacks on VP Kamala Harris’ racial identity and other derogatory statements directed at the Black women reporters that were interviewing him.

Today marks the 59th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, and in celebration, the Transformative Justice Coalition is hosting a Fundraiser & Voting Rights Award Reception themed “”From Generation To Generation!: Upholding The Fight for Voting Rights & A Multiracial Democracy.” with honorees Betty Boynton and Senator Hughes. Come celebrate those who fight for our right to vote at our Voting Rights Champion Award Reception at The Madison Hotel for an evening of celebration and recognition! We will be honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to protecting and advancing voting rights in our community. Enjoy a night of inspiring speeches, delicious refreshments, and networking with like-minded individuals. Let’s come together to celebrate those who are dedicated to ensuring everyone’s voice is heard. Don’t miss out on this special event! Get tickets and learn more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voting-rights-champion-award-reception-tickets-943732548457?aff=oddtdtcreator 

Over the years, Igniting Change has pointed out the many failures and misadventures of the U.S. media’s coverage of racial issues. This journalistic incompetence reaches a new high during political contests, especially during presidential elections. As result of President Biden’s withdrawal and the rise of Vice President Kamala Harris as the presumptive Democratic nominee and the frenzied racial attacks by her opponents, the American media seems to have been left destitute in its ability to properly analyze this historic moment. From misguided headlines which thoughtlessly give credence to racial attacks, to the lack of fact checking, and the treatment of racial slurs, tropes, and stereotypes as fair commentary, this period has reeked of abysmal journalism. We will discuss some of these matters and what is necessary to be done to make the overall media more competent.

We will also examine the NABJ controversy and its aftermath.

For more information on the NABJ controversies, see the following articles:

•  July 30th, 2024, CNBC, “Trump address to Black journalist convention prompts co-chair Karen Attiah to quit”, https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/30/trump-speak-black-journalists-nabj-co-chair-quits.html 
• August 5th, 2024, Barbara Arnwine’s LinkedIn Post and related article on the matter: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/barbaraarnwine_as-trump-questions-harris-identity-a-look-activity-7226008120756449280-uLvu?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop 

QUESTIONS:

• [Barbara and Daryl will start off the show by discussing the 59th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act today, and the TJC Fundraiser Reception tonight. Following the successful 85+ events held nationwide for the John Lewis National Day of Action and Candlelight Vigils, the Transformative Justice Coalition has a number of additional initiatives that it will be pursuing, including the August 6th Fundraiser so that we can have a September Gen Z and Young Millennial Training during the Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Legislative Conference and a series of Get Out The Vote Concerts for Gen Z and Young Millennials. Tell the audience more about these initiatives and how they can get involved and get tickets for the upcoming August 6th Fundraiser Reception or donate now.
• August 6th Transformative Justice Coalition Fundraiser & Voting Rights Award Reception: Come celebrate those who fight for our right to vote at our Voting Rights Champion Award Reception! Voting Rights Champion Award Reception
• “From Generation To Generation!: Upholding The Fight for Voting Rights & A Multiracial Democracy.”
• Come join us at The Madison Hotel for an evening of celebration and recognition! We will be honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to protecting and advancing voting rights in our community. Enjoy a night of inspiring speeches, delicious refreshments, and networking with like-minded individuals. Let’s come together to celebrate those who are dedicated to ensuring everyone’s voice is heard. Don’t miss out on this special event! 
  Get tickets and learn more: tjcoalition.org]

Dr. Stephanie Myers and Wilmer J. Leon, III, Ph.D.

• Welcome to Igniting Change! Given the title of this show, “Election 2024, The Media and Race: Racist Attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris and NABJ Debacle”, how would you rate, on a scale of 1 to 5, the media’s coverage of the racial aspects of the 2024 election? (non partisan)
• Why did you give this grade?
• What, for you, has been the most distinctive positive media and the most negative?
• Why, in your opinion, is the media so bad in covering racial politics?
• What is it that editors and reporters should do that they do not do when it comes to covering race and the elections?
• Former President and 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has attacked Vice President Kamala Harris as, and I quote from his Truth Social posts, “low IQ”; “dumb”; “doesn’t have the mental capacity to do a REAL Debate against me”, and “isn’t Black”. Despite these extremely racist attacks, a lot of media coverage has failed to identify it as such. Fortunately George Stephanopoulos, Roland Martin, and others have called this out. Why does the media give Trump and his surrogates free reign to make these racialized slurs and attacks?
• We cannot talk about Trump’s media appearances in which he has denigrated the racial identity of VP Harris without talking about the National Association of Black Journalists’ (NABJ) debacle. As Black journalists, authors, and media commentators, what do you think about this controversy?
• What should the NABJ have invited him?
• Did the interviewers handle his appearance correctly?
• What do you think have been the short term consequences and will be the long term consequences of the NABJ debacle?
• What should be done in these news rooms to improve the coverage of racial politics?
• How can our listeners get involved in holding the media accountable?
• Given that today is the 59th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act  of 1965, what statement would you like to make to our audience on this momentous occasion?
• Both of you are very aware that TJC sponsors voting rights leadership trainings for Gen Z and young Millennials. Our fundraiser later on tonight is to benefit our September 11th – 13th Training Program. Why is it important to invest in young people in this particular moment in time?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?
• [Barbara and Daryl will end the show by congratulating TJC’s honorees for tonight’s fundraiser and reception, and that the application for the Sept. 11th – 13th Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Training, to be held during the Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Legislative Conference, will be open starting August 9th.]