Resisting in Solidarity

At times like these — amid a steady barrage of attacks on public media and all things Black — I find it therapeutic to commune in solidarity with my nonprofit and independent media making colleagues.

That’s exactly what I did this past weekend by attending the Black.Indie.Ignite summit, hosted by Kweli TV in Los Angeles. Celebrating each other’s work and collectively resisting assaults on our very being are much-needed spirit boosters. But raising your hand against assailants can draw unwanted attention from forces eager to silence voices like ours. It’s the kind of attention no nonprofit leader or independent media maker wants. Still, taking abuse quietly is unacceptable. Not only because it is demoralizing, but because it emboldens attackers to expand the intensity of their assaults.

Finding Ways to Resist

Last month, I had to release three of our valued employees: Carol Bash, Eboni Johnson-Kaba and DeLynda Lindsey. These people weren’t let go because of poor performance. They were loyal, high achieving, productive team members. They got riffed because we couldn’t afford to keep them. We could have just let them go quietly. Instead, with their permission, we posted an IG reel clapping out their departures and encouraging anyone who has a position they’re suited for to consider hiring them. The clap out was a form of resistance. 

I believe the season we’re in is temporary. My remaining coworkers and I are working hard to ensure that the future of Black Public Media is one in which our financial stability is never again so vulnerable to the whims of politics. With your help, we’ll get there sooner than later. The 1.8M Donors campaign we launched in August continues to attract contributors. If you’ve yet to participate, we look forward to receiving your gift. If you’ve already given, you know how grateful we are and we hope you’re encouraging others in your network to follow your example. Collectively investing in what we value is a form of resistance.

Leaning into Our History

The history of Americans working in solidarity to resist oppression is long and rich. This summer, we lost a battle to save federal support for public media. But the millions of Americans who wrote their congressional representatives in support of public media and who continue to donate to their local stations assure me that there is robust support for what we do. Now is the time to galvanize that support. A nation that is truly free doesn’t fear dissent. It encourages debate, pursues equity, celebrates diversity and seeks justice for all. Public media provide a commercial-free platform for showcasing different perspectives and working toward resolution. Differences of opinion are inevitable but the resolve to settle those differences peaceably is a superpower we must revitalize. 

During next year’s 250th celebration of our nation’s founding, I look forward to proclaiming that BPM is still here because the United States of America upholds its enduring commitment to nonfiction storytelling. Our centuries-long solidarity on that issue has produced a land where documentary film, immersive media, journalism and literature coexist to nurture our people and strengthen our democracy. With your support, BPM will continue to serve both the storytellers who document Black people’s role in the ever-evolving American story, and the media platforms that distribute those stories, free of charge, to the public. In solidarity, we’ll fuel a new future for Black stories. One of which we can all be proud.