SEPTEMBER 23, 2025
BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA
WEEKLY DISPATCH
By Leslie Fields-Cruz
Photo by Yekaterina Gyadu
Amid the torrent of toxic rhetoric flowing through the national discourse these days, I welcome an occasion to celebrate. Hispanic Heritage Month began last week and continues until Oct. 15. It is, I believe, the only month-long observance on the U.S. calendar that spans two months. The beauty of this is we get to celebrate during the waning days of summer as well as the early days of fall.
If you’re looking for films to add to your Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, check out the selections recommended by Latino Public Broadcasting. One of those, Sentir el Son, by Karla Duarte, follows an Afro-Latinx woman along her journey to discover her racial identity through music and dance.
Screenshot from “Sentir el Son,” courtesy of Latino Public Broadcasting.
These are the types of stories BPM and our peer organizations in the National Multicultural Alliance work to bring to the viewing public. Projects that otherwise might not secure the funding they need or the audiences they deserve. The recent defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is making it harder for organizations like BPM to serve these media makers.
For instance, BPM isn’t hosting an Open Call this year. Like many of our public media peers, we’re also being forced to downsize our staff.
The $1.8M promised to us was clawed back by Congress in July, leaving us just two months to replace it in time for the beginning of the 2026 fiscal year, which starts next week (Oct. 1). Some of our philanthropic, corporate and individual donors are stepping up to help. But funding gaps this large aren’t easily closed — especially not on such short notice.
Rallying Despite Painful Cuts
The situation is disquieting, but not insurmountable. Thankfully, some of you have already lent a hand, but there’s room for many more to pitch in. Make a contribution to one or all our organizations and, together, we’ll ensure the stories of our people — and of our nation — continue to be produced and celebrated for generations to come.