"60 Minutes" Story on Snitching Reinforces the Need to Support the Black Press

PART 2: WE KILLED THE MESSENGER

Assuming the stop snitching movement, as mainstream media reports it, is a hoax; the question would be, why do black people passively embrace and accept any message sent by a mainstream messenger? Too many Black people are quick to jump on the bandwagon without doing research, or asking someone more knowledgeable. Anderson Cooper said it on 60 Minutes, so we agree. Much like back in the day when the master had the flu, WE were sick.

Many Blacks complain about mainstream media defining our values and creating leaders by giving voice to a chosen few. Our ancestors didn't get mad or complain; they got even. They created black publications as good, or better, than their mainstream counterparts. Black newspapers were packed with thoughtful information aimed to educate, inspire, and empower the black community. These political Bibles were passed through the neighborhood and looked upon as the sacred key to overcoming oppressive conditions. People eagerly awaited their weekly messages from respected writers like Fredrick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, and Ida B. Wells.

Similar to the impact integration had on black schools, once mainstream newspapers included stories related to the black experience, African-Americans abandoned the black press. Unlike other minorities, as soon as blacks are accepted into mainstream they tend to dump their traditional institutions. Don't get me wrong, we should embrace diversity in mainstream media and applaud the outstanding work of black journalists and broadcasters fighting for fair coverage on the inside. However, the beloved community desperately needs the black press to separate news from propaganda and fact from fiction.