The Whitening Of Air America: Ethnic Cleansing At Air America

[Itsthetruth]

Wednesday, April 13, 2005
The Whitening Of Air America
ETHNIC CLEANSING AT AIR AMERICA
by Nathaniel Livingston Jr.

Nathaniel Livingston, Jr., publishes the Cincinnati Black Blog which is available online at http://blackcincinnatiblog.com.

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When liberal Air America Radio Network yanked hip-hop legend Chuck D, a member of Public Enemy, off the air on April Fool’s Day and replaced him with Jerry Springer, they made fools out of Black Democrats, especially those in the hip-hop community who believed Air America would serve as a shining example of the Democratic Party’s purported commitment to tolerance, diversity, and partnership.

After being on the air for a year, Air America finds itself struggling to attract and keep listeners, just as the Democratic Party struggles to gain and keep voters. The removal of Chuck D -- one of only two daily African American talk show hosts -- represents much more than just the “whitening” of Air America, it symbolizes just how far the Party has drifted away from the Black community, it’s most loyal support base.

White liberals’ support for racial, ethnic, and viewpoint diversity appears nonexistent when it’s them, and not the government, being challenged to diversify. Air America passed over hundreds of qualified and experienced African American talk radio hosts i.e., Tavis Smiley, Bev Smith, Ed Gordon, Raqiyah Mays, and Joe Madison, for such no names as Ed Schultz, Mark Maron, and Sam Seder. But it’s not like we weren’t warned.

Even beyond racial diversity, Air America’s white overseers have done little to foster an ideologically diverse listener base or allow all voices within the Democratic Party to be heard. Air America has turned into an endless stream of boring bellyaching, where so much time is spent responding to conservative talking points that we can’t push an alternative agenda. This isn’t the best our Party has to offer, it is the worst. The notion that a few elitist reactionaries represent the Party of Roosevelt and Kennedy is preposterous. Springer and the rest of the second-tiered talk show hosts don’t speak for me, and I don’t think they speak for Latinos, Women, hard-working union members, or other African Americans either. Air America represents the hijacking of the Democratic Party, silencing of minority voices, and destruction of a common sense agenda.

http://blackcincinnati.blogspot.com/

[KittyWampus]

1. Excuse Me, But Chuck D WAS NEVER THERE!

Edit- Ed Schultz is a "no name"?

Also, Maybe Air America's switch to XM will give them opportunity to put on Tavis Smiley... who knows?

[linazelle]

38. You're right, he wasn't there--and this is not a racial issue. n/t

[DrGonzoLives]

2. Did this guy ever listen to that show?

The times I tuned in, I think Chuck D MAYBE spoke a grand total of 30 words the entire time. And that was if he was feeling chatty.

But, no, it's easier to scream "racism." Just like I'm sure someone will call me a racist or something along those lines for this opinion.

[electropop]

24. See xultar's posts below.

:rant:

[ClassWarrior]

3. So a radio show is an excuse to divide us further?

I really loved Unfiltered, but isn't this a bit of a leap?

NGU.

[WilliamPitt]

4. Mmmm...eating our own is taaaaasty

I think there must be a 'Circular Firing Squad' gene embedded in the most basic genetic code of liberals, progressives and otherwise clear-headed people. It's automatic, like sneezing when dust gets in the nose. There is no other explanation for the constant, uninterrupted ability for people on our side to beat each other to death.

[NYCGirl]

5. Found one mistake in the second sentence:

"After being on the air for a year, Air America finds itself struggling to attract and keep listeners"

The author is wrong about that — and apparently doesn't know that Chuck D has been given his own weekend show starting soon. He also doesn't seem to be aware that Chuck D was only on "Unfiltered" on Mondays and Fridays, a situation that was of Chuck D's own choosing.

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. Smiley et al...

...were probably too ensconced to take a flyer on a network that might fail, and take their careers down with them.

One of the morning guys is an old WLIB hand from waaaaay back. He made his bones covering African American issues back in Abe Beame days.

[norml]

7. Looks more like he wants to be carried on Air America.

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 396 for "Nathaniel Livingston jr". (0.10 seconds)
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PPRREESSSS RREELLEEAASSEE
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... Nathaniel Livingston Jr. [phone]. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. July 11, 2002
... (Amanda E. Mayes, Linda Newman and Nathaniel Livingston, Jr.) ...
www.cincyboycott.org/Press_Release_07-11-02.pdf - Similar pages

Press Release May 7, 2002
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... Nathaniel Livingston Jr. [phone]. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. May 7, 2002.
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Cincinnati CityBeat : 04/14/2004 : Porkopolis
... Evicted from a city council meeting, Nathaniel Livingston Jr. returned and was
... radical activist/boycotter/gadfly Nathaniel Livingston Jr. wrote yet ...
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CityBeat: Porkopolis (2001-02-08)
... Here's an arresting development in local politics: activist and radio host
Nathaniel Livingston Jr. wants a seat on Cincinnati City Council. ...
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CBS News | Cincy Cops Slammed Over Death | December 2, 2003 07:00:58
... said Nathaniel Livingston Jr. of the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati.
The officers who were at the scene Sunday — five whites and one black — were ...
www.cbsnews.com/stories/ 2003/12/02/national/main586310.shtml - 43k - Cached - Similar pages

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... Nathaniel Livingston, Jr. [e-mail]. I will be listening tomorrow
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nate0124
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FOXNews.com - US & World - Man's Death in Fight With Cincinnati ...
... said Nathaniel Livingston Jr. of the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati (search).
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Lead News Stories from the Gay People's Chronicle
... Nathaniel Livingston, Jr., who heads the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati,
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A Little More To The Right: Humor AND Opinion
... asked Nathaniel Livingston Jr. of the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati. I don't
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[proud patriot]

8. Chuck D was there Saturday night on Kyle Jason's Show

I only agree with one thing from this article
AAR does need some diversity . I hope it gets it
soon .

[Rosco T.]

9. Chuck D will still have a show on the weekends...

obviously this guy has no concept of what he's spewing.

Also convenient he leaves out Mark Riley and Kyle Jason.

[electropop]

10. Chuck D hardly ever showed up for work.

It would be a good idea to get another black face in there, along with some other groups. Chuck just wasn't really into it. However, Mark Riley, last I saw him on TV, and last I heard him say it, is black, and he co-hosts the crucial morning drive time show Morning Sedition.

Also, Ed Schultz (I don't think too much of him either) is not on Air America, but he is carried on the same channel on XM, displacing 2 hours of far superior Randy Rhodes.

I think we do need some tough talk on our side. As the 'pukes have demonstrated, ideas don't go as far as anger in America today. We need to crack into people's consciousness, and then sell ideas. The ideal mix would include both bellyaching and brilliant ideas. Get some think tankers in there, discoursing on what America can achieve if we have better policies. Get political experts in there formulating strategy and selling it to the troops. And yes, keep comedians yelling about Republican idiocy and corruption. It's fun, and that matters. All the rest is moot if nobody listens.

[xultar]

12. HE NEVER SHOWED UP FOR WORK...is that the BLACK IS LAZY

stereo type
Chuck D has a HUGE BUSINESS...
HE WAS SPENDING HIS TIME RALLYING BLACK VOTERS.
HE WAS GOING TO CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS ABOUT
BLACK ISSUES.


:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:
:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:
:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:
:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:

DON'T EVER TALK ABOUT SHIT UNLESS YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE FACTS.

[bbernardini]

13. Overreact much?

[fudge stripe cookays]

20. I don't think...

she's overreacting at all.

the poster's tone bothered me too.

FSC

[electropop]

16. I was referring to the radio show.

I didn't mean he doesn't do _anything_, just not radio. I often listened to his show; he wasn't on it. And please mind your manners. Putting words in my mouth just makes _you_ look wacked.

[xultar]

18. I responded to what you said...further more he phoned in about news

from those events commenting on the black experience in major media plus about the voting work he was doing.

SO, when you say he didn't show up for work...YOU ARE WRONG.

[Snivi Yllom]

22. oh my

:wow:

[WLKjr]

30. no kidding xultar

someone always want's to open up the traps and spread falsehoods.


I feel a flamewar comming on....

[linazelle]

31. He wasn't there. That's all we knew...nobody explained it.

This is not a racial issue. Stop trying to make it one.

[Drewskie]

26. Ed

Ed is a redneck who appeals to rednecks... the millions of rednecks listening in pickups or semis out there who would never dream of reading, or posting on, a board like this. Now this is the sad truth: your typical redneck does'nt want to be talked down to by a woman on the radio. But they will listen to Ed. This is why Schultz is on, I think, nearly 100 stations and cuts into Rhodes on most of her stations.

[stevedeshazer]

41. Bull

I'm a proud Democrat and a blueneck who listens to Ed Schultz AND Randi Rhodes, and I've posted here every day for more than three years.

Take your stereotypes elsewhere. :grr:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

11. This person...

Obviously has a problem with AAR. The other stuff leads me to believe that he, at least, flirts with being a "bold new black conservative". Which is his right.

But if he is, it's a dumb position.

[The Donkey]

14. The Subject is a Moot Point Here in Phoenix, AZ

As it may well be in several other markets. The time slot now occupied by Springer on the flagship network is filled by local guy Charles Goyette here in Phoenix (who does a great job, by the way). I assume that many other affiliates around the country are picking and choosing the shows which they are airing.

[Ruby Romaine]

15. Mark Riley

When it comes to talk radio, the name Mark Riley has become a household name in New York City. As a veteran talk-show host, Riley has established a reputation for his charismatic approach to controversy and his adept skill for remembering details and statistics. Having previously worked at WLIB 1190 AM in the nation's #1 market for 30 years, Riley brings a wealth of radio experience to Air America. His first on-air opportunity came as host of the public affairs program Urban Notebook, which skyrocketed in popularity. In 1986, Riley moved to the prime time morning slot broadcasting live from the World Famous Apollo Theatre.

Since that time, Riley has worked his way up through a spectrum of roles at the station: writer, editor, managing editor, executive editor, program director and of course, on-air host.
During his tenure as program director (1992-1996), Riley identified the diversity of the WLIB audience and set to establish more balance between the African American and Caribbean dimensions of the station's programming. Riley also pioneered the station's efforts to enhance listener awareness in the political arena, airing full coverage of all Democratic and Republican conventions since 1990, as well as coverage of both Democratic Inaugurals in Haiti.

Some career highlights include exclusive interviews with President Bill Clinton, President Nelson Mandela, Governor Christine Whitman (R-NJ), Jean Bertrand Aristide (former president/Haiti) former New York mayor David N. Dinkins, Gordon Parks, Lena Horne, Spike Lee, Max Roach, Bill Cosby, Harry Belafonte, Muhammed Ali, Arthur Mitchell, Professor Cornell West (Harvard), Johnetta Cole (Spelman), and Don King. In addition to live radio, Riley is a popular TV political analyst with bi-weekly appearances on Road to City Hall on New York 1 News. Riley has also appeared on BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley, Both Sides with Jesse Jackson on CNN, The Charles Grodin Show, CNN's Reporters Roundtable, and the Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes. Other credits include work as a producer on documentary programming for the BBC 2 in London.

http://www.airamericaradio.com/shows/morningsedition/bio.asp

[Itsthetruth]

19. So Who Can Challenge The Rush Limbaugh's Of Radio Talk?

So what radio talk show hosts are capable of going beyond the " liberal wine and cheese" crowd and would have mass appeal among average working class people of all races?

I think that person would have to be radical and "left-wing". Liberal intellectuals have very limited appeal, can't take on the right-wing effectively and have no appeal in the mass market. They are boring!

Jim Hightower is the best I have heard so far. So perhaps he along with an effective Black host who doesn't pull punches and in fact knows how to throw one could be hired.

[Drewskie]

35. ...

Liberal intellectuals get most of their information via newspapers and publications, such as newsweek perhaps, rather than over the radio. The processing of information is much faster and efficient reading. I can listen to Malloy or Hartman talk about the evils of the bush admin, but if I read Machiavlli, along with timely articles from various sources, things crystalize at a much higher level.

It's the huge bulge on the intellectual bell curve, that is non-reading, and will be more inclined to be brainwashed by a droning, repetitive voice like Rush's. Not to mention all those who drive for a living(taxi drivers, truckers) who spend pretty much all day with the radio on.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Drewskie]

40. Of course

That's why the host needs mass appeal and can't cater to the so called "liberal intellectuals" or "elites" who probably have really good jobs and no time to listen to the radio in the first place.

[onecitizen]

42. I love Riley..........

and the other Mark too. I think the 2 Marks work well with each other but I think Riley would really shine on his own, with more in depth analysis kind of like Brian Lamb on C-span.

[scarletlib]

43. I love both Mark on morning sedition

it is the absolute best morning drive show i have ever listened to period. these guys get me to laugh more than anyone or anything in a long time.

the show is topical and cutting edge thought provoking in its humor.

it's brilliant in my humble opinion. honestly, i love the entire aar lineup and Randi is my queen but the this show rocks.

[captain crunch]

17. OUCH........

tell us how you really feel.

[Snivi Yllom]

21. if you really want to get into this

WLIB Air America in New York replaced a Caribbean theme station.

[Ganja Ninja]

23. If you do a google search on Nathaniel Livingston Jr ...

you'll see he's kind of a loose cannon.

He's been evicted from City Counsel meetings.
http://www.citybeat.com/2004-04-14/porkopolis.shtml

He's been charged with domestic assault and child endangerment.
http://www.cincypost.com/news/1998/nate012498.html

He's spearheaded an effort to ban a gay play.
http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories04/04apr16.htm

[blm]

32. Sounds like a GOP operative tossing bombs from the FAUX left.

.

[MsTryska]

25. I love me some Chuck....

HOWEVER - i think it is unfair to put the onus of spreading diversity on his shoulders simply because at least imo - the radio show is a bit of a sidegig for him anyways.

Why more importantly - does Mark Reilly get no props anyways? he's Black, he's done radio, he's done Black Radio, and he is up everyday at the crack of ass doing radio for the masses. No respect.

You knwo who i think should get a radio show? Whoopi Goldberg.

or better yet - Whoopi and Cornel West. That would be a blast.

[BrainRants]

27. re: Whoopi and Cornel West

YES!

[MsTryska]

28. only thing is -

i don't know if whoopi could handle the FCC regulations.

But i saw them on Bill Maher a few weeks ago, and they vibed off each other pretty well. Altho they did battle for center stage every once in a while.

[BrainRants]

33. True enough, maybe once AAR's finances are a little more stable

they could bring her on to create some controversy and get the FCC to create some free publicity advertising by levying a fine and blasting it all over the MSM. A $250k fine in exchange for increased viewers and advertiser seems like a good trade-off.

Why do people tune in to Stern? To hear *what* he *might* say. He laughs at the fines because he knows it only makes him bigger.

Fines & language didn't hurt his career...

[MsTryska]

34. *lol*! actually does the station get fined?

or is it the actual host? if it's the host - hell whoopi's got money - she can handle it.

[DancingBear]

29. Over-reach much, Mr. Livingston?

Anyone looking to define "drivel" should read this piece.

Yep, it's "ready, aim, get in a circle, fire" time all over again.

Let me also say, that with regards to Chuck D., I think the point that was trying to be made (albeit in a very clumsy manner) was that he (Chuck D.) was very rarely ON THE SHOW, not that he was not doing yeoman's work in trying to mobilize the vote, make folks aware of issues, etc.

There can be no issue with his devotion to the cause, but to say that someone who was rarely on the show was "booted off" for reasons other than (I would assume) bottom line/demographics/numbers is, well, ridiculous.

[UdoKier]

36. Chuck D's problem wasn't just his color.

He was too serious and too cerebral. I listened to him, and it was okay, but not as entertaining as the other programming. Even the lackluster Al Franken Show is better.

Maybe they could try someone a little more entertaining, like a Chris Rock or an Aaron MacGruder. They are bright and not as heavy as Chuck D.

Don't get me wrong, Chuck D's great at what he does, just not so hot as a radio host.

Also, Ed Schultz is not a no-name - he is on at least 80 stations around the country, nor is he employed by Air America.

[onecitizen]

37. He's still there........

he must have the best job in the world. I heard him say he will have a Sunday evening late night show.