from Dr. Boyce Watkins
Following up on the black challenge to Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and others:
A few days ago, we began talk of holding Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity accountable for their racialized smearing of Senator Barack Obama and Rev. Jeremiah Wright. This event was only the latest in non-stop racial attacks by those in the “Axis of Ignorance”, engaging in consistent social terrorism of people of color. Many of us sat angry and hurt as we felt defenseless to counter the lies being told on airwaves and media channels that distort elections and mute black voices across America.
Hundreds of you emailed us back with great ideas, including Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who reminded us of the importance of engaging in action and not feeling that we are powerless to respond. We also heard from individuals affiliated with the Obama campaign, who reminded us to keep believing in our power to overcome. In my mind, the issue is not whether Pastor Wright was right to speak, or if Senator Obama was right to denounce him. The issue was that two powerful, intelligent black men were being forced to end their 20 year relationship because racist individuals decided to paint an educated ex-Marine with a critical mind as an unpatriotic lunatic. I have dealt with O’Reilly and Hannity up close on MANY occasions, and I can assure you that they DO NOT have the interests of black people at heart.
While O’Reilly, Limbaugh and Hannity have a right to speak freely, I am sure many of you agree that they should not be allowed to attack your leaders using your money. So, to help the cause, we’ve gathered a list of corporate sponsors for Fox News. I would like to thank Andrea Hatter, a respected novelist and member of the Your Black World Family, for providing this list. If you would like to write or call these sponsors and also complain to the FCC about what you’re seeing on the airwaves, the information is there for you. You can also email us at info@yourblackworld.com to share your frustrations.
Please forward this link to anyone else concerned with the activities of Fox News. We are not out to trample on their freedom of speech. We are just seeking to keep them from trampling our freedom of speech and using our money to do it. We don’t have to support corporations that support this kind of behavior, that is our fundamental right as Americans.
Take care,
Dr. Boyce Watkins
ps.
For those interested in Black Money and Black Finance, here is an article on the topic I recently wrote. It was inspired by my visit last weekend to speak with the Urban Philly Professional Network. Like this group, it is important that we as black people work together every chance we get.















