Study: Few Blacks Seen on Talk Shows

[Rose Siding]

Only 8 percent of the guests on the major Sunday morning talk shows over the past 18 months were African Americans, with three people accounting for the majority of those appearances, according to a new study by the National Urban League.

Black guests -- newsmakers, the journalists who questioned them and experts who offered commentary -- appeared 176 times out of more than 2,100 opportunities, according to the study, which is scheduled for release today. But 122 of those appearances were made by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state Colin L. Powell, and Juan Williams, a journalist and regular panel member on "Fox News Sunday."
....
The Urban League study contends that Sunday morning talk shows are particularly important because they help Americans digest complex political issues, from the war in Iraq to Supreme Court nominations to the pitched battles over affirmative action and abortion.

Paul Brathwaite, executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus, said his organization joined the Hispanic and Asian caucuses in pleading with the networks to include more minority members of Congress in Sunday discussions. The study showed that only three black House members -- Reps. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) and Harold E. Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) -- and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) have appeared as guests.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/30/AR2005073001091_2.html

[Erika]

1. Faux/Bushco news have so many blacks on their side

They can have Clarence Thomas, Condi, and then there is is Thomas and Condi. After that they can have Condi and Thomas.

[wli]

5. not really, Bush just has a few oreo cookies

The Black Caucus is the real McCoy.

[bribri16]

29. Most Blacks who would appear on talk shows would make too much sense.

We can't have people who can speak to the common working American while speaking the truth to power. It embarrasses the talk show hosts to have Blacks talk down to or talk about "white leaders."
We still live with the plantation mentality. Only Blacks who show deference to whites will be allowed.

[Syrinx]

2. Letterman had Jimmie Walker on last week and he ain't even funny

har de har har.

[Jim Sagle]

3. DynoMITE!

;-)

[Syrinx]

6. you got it

Dave only has him on because Jimmie hired Dave in the seventies to write jokes from his black experience. And Dave is truthful AND loyal ;)

[Porcupine]

4. I assume no "culturally" black people appear at all

Condi Rice might as well have been raised in a Mormon boarding school in Utah. She shows absolutely no awarenesss of issues facing your average african american.

There are no viable liberal voices allowed on those shows. They are like the show trials of Jews during the inquisition. The so-called voices from the Left are REQUIRED to fail.

[ConfuZed]

10. Condi doesnt have to IMO

Her job is Secratary of state she's not an activist for the african american community her cousin Connie Rice on the other hand is a wonderful activist in Los Angeles area.

I have great respeact for african americans like Condi,Oprah and Colin Powell they have accomplished a hell of alot because they are highly skilled, exhibit great abilities and they do it all without making their race a major issue.

[Kahuna]

16. Rice and Powell's "accomplishments" include LYING to get us

into war. I'm black. I'm not proud of that. Just because they're educated and articulate, that does not make them good people who should be emulated by any body of any race.

[KeepItReal]

25. You're right. I'm sad to say Colin Powell *was* one of my heroes.

I even hoped he would run for President when he was really close to doing it.

Gotta give it to Bush & Co. for putting him in check by offering Sec. of State job to him.

I'm still trippin on how he sold out and did that dog and pony show in front of the U.N. to cheerlead for the illegal Iraq action. That was when I lost all respect for him. The neocons must have been dancing a jig when he agreed to do that sh*t.

[WhiteTara]

34. I knew he was a sell out when he covered up

the Mei Lai massacre. He's also got a son who would steal the airwaves from the rightful owners. Us, the public.

[classysassy]

40. The good,the bad,and the ugly.

when will america wake up and realize evil comes in all colors.?

[Erika]

7. The right is as segregated as they always were

A few tokens and that's it.

[Nevernose]

8. Nonsense. I saw a whole hour with teenaged girls figuring out the father

Ohhhh, SUNDAY morning talk shows. Sorry, don't wacth those. Politics dosen't interest me :sarcasm:

[Laughing Mirror]

9. Condi & Powell are hardly representative of African Americans in general

So even with the majority of "black" TV appeareances by those two phonies, the problem is even much more lopsided than the Washington Post (pretty damn white itself) makes it out to be.

[ConfuZed]

11. You don't get to define who represents me

As an african american I'm very proud to have two decent, well spoken african americans representing me.

[Erika]

12. Who are they?

Rangel and Obama?

[ConfuZed]

13. Thats makes 4 :)

Thats for adding those names

[WhiteTara]

27. you left out Clarence eom

[Kahuna]

32. *Snarf" Good one!

:thumbsup:

[Laughing Mirror]

14. Bully for you

Those two do not represent me or most African Americans and you know that is true.

[ConfuZed]

21. Actually I don't and I suspect you don't either

:popcorn:

[Kahuna]

15. Really? Which two?

If it's Powell and Rice, you must be a multi-millionaire, sell-out, tom for the republican party like them. Because that's what they represent. Decent? How are they decent? They LIED so bush could get his war on. They continue to lie for him. Powell served as the ultimate Tom for bush during the election mess in Florida in 2000. Powell was down with votes not being counted. That was when I lost all respect for him. He stood side by side with bush as bush fought to exclude votes.

[ConfuZed]

20. How dare you throw me in a catagory because I have admiration

for two of my people who got where they (Condi & Powell) are today because of hard work and toil, as for the lies they told if they didnt say what their 'boss' (I'd love to use another word) wanted them to say they would have been fired, the real person you should be angry with is Bush not them.

As for the 2000 election you should be pissed off at Kathleen Harris and the Supreme Court but I suppose none of this matters you will aways find a reason to hate them which I have no problem with its your opinion that I disagree with.

[KeepItReal]

By your logic, if my boss went out and killed babies, I should keep quiet

...lest I be fired from my job.

Rice and Powell are basically two people who you admire for working hard to get to where they are just so they can have a nice job? As my boy would say "they are paid to stay in check".

Why did people like Richard Clarke (counterterrorism expert) and Paul O'Neil (Treasury Secretary) leave this administration, rather than go along with everything (illegal Iraq actions) their boss (Bush) wanted? They didn't like having jobs?

[Kahuna]

31. I wonder. Clarke and O'Neill are white. Bush is white. By some people's

logic, they should admire the bush gang just because they're all white. What kind of shit is that. I'm not the crazy one. I know better than that.

[Kahuna]

30. "Your people????" How are they "your" people. Just because they're

black? What about white people? Are THEY your people? It's not like you don't have anything in common with white people. Presumably your both Americans. Do you defend everything and have pride for every thing white people do? What does a person have to do to be "your people?" Just be black? Whatever.

And another thing..About Condi and Powell's jobs...They're friggin millionares!!!!! They became millionares by doing the dirty work for the first bush. They do not need those jobs. They are just being uncle Toms who are getting their kicks by hanging out and rubbing elbows with the big boys. And just how did the bushies thank Powell for going along with them as much as he could stomach? They kicked him to the curb and gave his job to a much more compliant Tom, Condoleeza Rice.

[Inland]

22. And as a non-african american, I say they represent me in a crap manner.

Unfortunately, I get a voice but lost the election, so I'm stuck with these two bozos.

If Condi and Powell were limited to representing you, I'd let you have your opinion. Unfortunately, they aren't, because they aren't decent or well spoken---I think "slick" and "glib" might be better, lying sacks even more so.

[goclark]

24. Are you calling Condi and Colin decent?

If so,we must agree to disagree.

goclark
Proud African American

[Kahuna]

33. Some of us don't excuse Condi and Powell because they're black..

I mean think about that for a minute. Using that logic, white people should be proud of even Hitler just because he's white. That's just whacked logic where I come from. And very backwards too.

[cloudythescribbler]

17. This is very crucial manifestation of "The New Racism"-

Following the Reconstruction, there was a period of retrenchment, during which Jim Crow took hold of the South (and the US) with a vengeance, and lasted nearly a century. Then there was the civil rights movement. Now we are in another period of retrenchment, unless it is effectively fought, one where the machinery of oppression is mainly in more sophisticated terms than most of Jim Crow (though many of the ballot box and other manipulations are classical ordinarily discussed Jim Crow).

Here, the COMBINATION of the paucity of black visibility overall with the overwhelming presence of those blacks not speaking for the black community but for THE RIGHT WING of the white establishment fit together into a single maitrix, one of a particular juxtaposition of the "New Racism" -- the 'natural' tendency of existing political forces in the absence of serious challenge.

[cloudythescribbler]

18. ALSO this thread should DEFINITELY be among "greatest" for discussion

[xxqqqzme]

19. one of the reasons

I watch Tavis Smiley. He has African-American guests from all fields on his show. He has had African-American astronomers, physicists, economists - exposure that corporate media would never allow. I have much respect for Tavis using these professional people as role models instead of relying on enterainers & athletes.

[goclark]

23. Surprise, surprise1 NOT

From the day that the "LIBERAL" media got started, African Americans have not been present - we are but a grain of sand on the TV beach.
Ted Turner did allow Bernard Shaw to set the tone for CNN.

Examples: Leading up to the War and since --- name an African American that had anything major to say on TV except for (-Condi, -Powell) General Brooks! He was EXCELLENT!!!

Have you seen him since? Don't think so. He was so intelligent, easy on the eyes, gave a breath of honesty(as much as they would allow him to be honest) and now he is in no man's land.

They will let us talk about the weather but not the war!

They will let Oprah get high coverage, but not Annan.
They will allow P. Diddy to show his Sean John collection, but never hear from the President of the NAACP.

They will let the Christian Far Right speak, and sometimes let Jesse and Al Shsarpton say a few words. But they will ALWAYS have someone to rebutt their message.

I know why they won't let my Brothers and Sisters near the mike ---they know that we will speak plainly and tell it like it T I Is!

They want to keep us on the No Communication Plantation and that is where we are, except for LARRY the rethug mouthpiece ELDER (I forgot that sorry clown, what a disgrace he is to our race.)

[KeepItReal]

26. 1st thing Viacom did after buying BET: Fire Tavis Smiley

One of the best American (of any race) news anchors around.

[goclark]

37. Tavis is the greatest!

[Kahuna]

35. Boy, I wish I could be the one at the mike. Just one time...

I promise I would not be tongue tied while the media and bushbots spew their talking points. I would counter them with facts and if the facts reveal them to be liars, oh well. They would just have to learn to tell the truth or continue to be embarrassed.

[WhiteTara]

28. they're terrified to have

Barbara Lee, Sheila Jackson Lee, Cynthia McKinney, Maxine Waters, Conyers, Obama, or any other host of incredible blacks on their shows because they would bring those a*hole "interviewers" to their knees.

[chimpymustgo]

36. It's much deeper than race. It's simply inside/outside.

There's a list of about 50 people - mostly white - who tell us on Sunday morning, what we're supposed to think.

You won't hear anti-war voices on Sunday morning. You won't hear anti-corporate voices on Sunday morning. You won't hear anything THE MAN doesn't want you to hear.

That's the problem. Racial exclusion is just one manifestation.

[WhiteTara]

39. so true so true. eom

[fortyfeetunder]

38. It isn't just Black folks

I don't see too many Hispanics or Asians represented on the news shows. We know the Hispanic population in some areas outnumber Blacks. There are issues unique to these populations also, aren't their voices worth being heard on the MSM?