Air America Will Displace Black Talk On WLIB (Black LIBS Angry At White LIBS)

The Sacramento Observer ^ | March 23, 2004 | Karen Juanita Carrillo

[PJ-Comix]

NEW YORK (NNPA) - New York's radio station WLIB-1190 AM has been loyally "serving New York's Black community" - as its logo states - for decades now. In the early '90s WLIB was lauded as a resource for "Afrocentric" programming and became known for featuring Imhotep Gary Byrd's "Global Black Experience" show.

The station was in many ways a Black activist outlet.

But by the end of this month, WLIB will be taking on a different hue, as it joins the launch of Progress Media's "Air America Radio," the new, predominately White, liberal talk-radio network. Air America has reportedly partnered with Inner City Broadcasting Corporation (ICBC), which owns WLIB.

"We are excited about the diverse and important voices Air America Radio is bringing to the airwaves, both on our own WLIB signal and others," said ICBC Chairman Pierre Sutton. "This strategic partnership allows both companies to combine our resources and deliver relevant messages to a broad and diverse audience."

Sutton added, "That's what you call ‘high-class B.S.!'" one former WLIB staffer said when told that Sutton said the station's changes were necessary because African-Americans had just stopped listening to WLIB. The former staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, insisted that if WLIB's talk shows were promoted the way conservative talk shows are - and the way Air America's shows will be - the station would have made money.

Air America Radio plans on using what it terms a roundup of "progressive activists" and "celebrities" as part of the activist left's efforts to counter the national popularity of White, Right-wing conservative talk shows and radio personalities. The network will begin broadcasting shows from across the country on March 31 over WLIB and radio stations WNTD in Chicago and Los Angeles' KBLA.

"I don't get it. I mean, I do not get it," local activist Elombe Brath said about Air America Radio's takeover at WLIB. Reports are that WLIB's 40th floor station has been remodeled for Air America, and that the 30th and 39th floors are also being re-built to suit the needs of the new network.

Brath, who hosts and produces the show "Afrikaleidoscope" on WBAI-FM, and who played a part in the Afrocentric reorganization of WLIB's programming back in the early 1980s, complained that if listenership was down at WLIB, the station should have restructured from within as it did in the 1980s.

"All of the talk should be organic, from within the Black community," Brath insisted. "How can they think about coming into New York with a package program like this? We have people here already who know radio, who can do shows. And they want to come in with a program from other people trying to talk to Black people in New York City? [WLIB] is just a station that has been stripped of what it's supposed to be!"

In its heyday, WLIB and shows like "Night Talk with Bob Law" on WWRL-AM, Samori Marksman's "Worldview" on WBAI-FM, Bob Slade's "Open Line" on WKRS-FM, and WWRL's "Drive Time Dialogue" formed part of its own advocacy radio network. They highlighted Black community health concerns, cultural awareness and political activities. Many have even claimed that WLIB's efforts helped to get out the vote for David Dinkins as he ran to become New York City's first Black mayor.

But now as WLIB joins with Air America Radio, plans are to keep only a few of the station's leading Black radio personalities. Mark Riley will be a co-host on "Uprising," Air America's 6-9 a.m. show, while Dahved Levy, Ann Tripp and news director Wayne Gilman will also remain with the station.

Air America Radio's featured on-air personality will be Al Franken, a comedian who helped create NBC's "Saturday Night Live" and who recently wrote the book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," a scathing anti-FOX News, anti-Bill O'Reilly book that became a best-seller.

Alongside Franken, Air America Radio will feature comedienne Janeane Garofalo; environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; author and activist Laura Flanders; Lizz Winstead, a co-creator of "The Daily Show"; radio personalities Mark Riley and Randi Rhodes; and political humorist Sam Seder. Chuck D, lead rapper for the group Public Enemy, was initially announced as part of the Air America Radio staff, but sources now say that the hip-hop icon is backing away from that commitment.

"I don't know how Air America is going to broaden the reaches of 'LIB," said one radio personality who chose to speak anonymously about the situation. "How is this going to impact the Black community? As far as I've heard, they've got a couple of Whites who just really want to go after Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and all the others. You can't convince me that that's going to be something good for Black and Hispanic people."

Brath agreed with that analysis: "You've got people here in New York who believe in Black culture, so I don't see why they're ... they're like outsourcing in a sense. In reality what the station needs is to have some people who know the community and can speak to its needs."

This story comes special to the NNPA from the Amsterdam News.

[PJ-Comix]

"That's what you call ‘high-class B.S.!'" one former WLIB staffer said when told that Sutton said the station's changes were necessary because African-Americans had just stopped listening to WLIB.

It sounds like the staffers at WLIB radio are NOT happy with the changes.

"All of the talk should be organic, from within the Black community," Brath insisted. "How can they think about coming into New York with a package program like this? We have people here already who know radio, who can do shows. And they want to come in with a program from other people trying to talk to Black people in New York City? [WLIB] is just a station that has been stripped of what it's supposed to be!"

Okay, point taken but the BLAME belongs to the White Libs.

"How is this going to impact the Black community? As far as I've heard, they've got a couple of Whites who just really want to go after Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and all the others. You can't convince me that that's going to be something good for Black and Hispanic people."

So call up Al Franken on the air and complain.

[martin_fierro]

"I don't get it. I mean, I do not get it," local activist Elombe Brath said about Air America Radio's takeover at WLIB. Reports are that WLIB's 40th floor station has been remodeled for Air America, and that the 30th and 39th floors are also being re-built to suit the needs of the new network.

Fret not, Elombe. Klintoon's in Harlem. He'll watch out for you.

[LongsforReagan]

They shouldnt be too upset. They can get their offices back by November.

[blanknoone]

insisted that if WLIB's talk shows were promoted the way conservative talk shows are - and the way Air America's shows will be - the station would have made money.

We coulda made money....really we coulda. If only we had been given enough resources...we coulda competed.

An apparently money losing station was sold.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

As far as I've heard, they've got a couple of Whites who just really want to go after Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and all the others. You can't convince me that that's going to be something good for Black and Hispanic people."

... and the moral of today's lesson, class: keep voting yourself back ONTO the 'Rat plantation... and they'll just keep right on treating you as if you genuinely BELONGED on a plantation.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. :)

[martin_fierro]

"All of the talk should be organic, from within the Black community," Brath insisted. "How can they think about coming into New York with a package program like this?"

Yeah, really. Where'd they get THAT idea.

[ken5050]

We need the over/under on the # of times Garafalo says the "f" word on her first show...then we can listen to Howard Stern rebroadcast it on his show...

[Born Conservative]

Bump for later to send to my liberal friends.

[mhking]

Life's a b*tch, ain't it? [g]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[TEXASPROUD]

For some reason, "Air America" radio brings thoughts of some rather conservative operaters to mind.

[wjcsux]

I don't know how Air America is going to broaden the reaches of 'LIB," said one radio personality who chose to speak anonymously about the situation. "How is this going to impact the Black community? As far as I've heard, they've got a couple of Whites who just really want to go after Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and all the others. You can't convince me that that's going to be something good for Black and Hispanic people."
ROTFLMAO! You gotta really love "diversity"!

[Tacis]

HEY, THOSE NYC BLACKS BETTER GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!! They better start doing EXACTLY what the ultra-left wing dems tell them to do or Kerry will sell them ALL down the river.

The dems don't care about black radio! The dems don't care about blacks! The dems HATE blacks and ALWAYS have!! But, just like the man who beats his dog yet the dog still follws and obeys, blacks will do just what the lib-dems order them to do because, in part, they don't realize they could do a lot better.

[cyborg]

I listened to WLIB only on Saturdays for the music. They played really good caribbean music and they also covered the West Indian day parades. I've a bit peeved I won't be to listen BUT there's streaming radio from Trinidad so I don't care.

WLIB just got TOO disgusting and liberal and intolerable. They made the mistake of thinking that all black people want to listen to is streaming Louie Farrakhan.

[cyborg]

I should add that Sutton is right. I don't know of any black people who listen to WLIB anymore. There's KISS-FM which is cool rhythm and blues, really nice music, 'good black music' I guess. Cater to a narrow demographic on AM is deadly.

[Arpege92]

"All of the talk should be organic, from within the Black community."

Organic huh? Organic as in "bull_hit" is probably what this person means. From what I've seen and heard coming from Black leaders these days, they could use a little less organic and alot more truth.

"they want to come in with a program from other people trying to talk to Black people in New York City?"

Other people means "white people". I have never seen a liberal try to be inclusive with everyone. They divide everyone up into little groups. You have the black groups, the white groups, the white devil groups (republicans), the uncle tom groups (self explanitory). Anyone who isn't black can't possibly talk to the black community is basically what these folks are saying. If skin color is the only pre-requisite needed to get on this radio program to talk to black people, then they need to come up with some new requirements.

[Squantos]

I think hyphenated Americans ain't in the first place. That said I think what they are calling African-Americans have just gotten smarter and walked from what isn't the old Democratic party their parents supported. They ain't for the working man any more they are just lining their own pockets.

Just my 2 cents on the matter........Hot Air America should be the name of that station.

Stay safe !

[cyborg]

One out of two ain't bad.

[B4Ranch]

I thought the old Agency Airline was coming back to life from the title!

[Blood of Tyrants]

"We are excited about the diverse and important voices Air America Radio is bringing to the airwaves, both on our own WLIB signal and others," said ICBC Chairman Pierre Sutton.

We are excited at the money the DNC gave us.

Does WLIB stand for White Liberal Indoctrinational Broadcasting?

[fella]

So call up Al Franken on the air and complain.

Franken is to thin-skined to take very may if any of those kind of calls.

[EAGLE7]

For the last 50 or so years liberals have kept blacks enslaved in the chains of thier socialist philosphy and communist agenda. They have served thier masters well by voting for democrats. So when thier white commrades tell them to move they better move. After all, its not about equality. It has always been about radicaly changing America, and to that they need victims like blacks, women, gays, etc. They all serve thier masters radical cause.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Airhead America, Tawana Radio, WGAG, WLOL bump

[3catsanadog]

What it all comes down to - even with liberals - is the bottom line (though they are loathe to admit it).

[Warrior Nurse]

For the last 50 or so years liberals have kept blacks enslaved in the chains of their socialist philosophy and communist agenda. They have served thier masters well by voting for democrats. So when their white comrades tell them to move they better move. After all, its not about equality. It has always been about radically changing America, and to that they need victims like blacks, women, gays, etc. They all serve their masters radical cause.
Well it looks like the defecation is hitting the ventilation over this. I will bet you blacks will still vote for their slave masters in the Liberal Socialist Democratic party

[Southack]

White libs once again displace Black libs...

[rdb3]

White libs once again displace Black libs...

And all I can do is laugh!

Show 'em my motto!

[blackie]

Isn't it wonderful when the lunatic left fights with itself!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[talleyman]

"White libs silence black voices" will be the NY Slimes headline tomorrow - I'm certain of it...

[EQAndyBuzz]

""I don't know how Air America is going to broaden the reaches of 'LIB," said one radio personality who chose to speak anonymously about the situation. "How is this going to impact the Black community? As far as I've heard, they've got a couple of Whites who just really want to go after Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and all the others. You can't convince me that that's going to be something good for Black and Hispanic people.""

You reap what you so.

[Southack]

"White libs silence black voices" will be the NY Slimes headline tomorrow - I'm certain of it..."

Funny!

[N. Theknow]

Had an extra helping of "Whackies - The Breakfast of Chumpions" this morning?

[MrB]

I ALWAYS love "biggest victim class" pissing matches.

Because it's always "liberals" (leftists) that are involved.