By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
Beginning at 7 p.m. EST, the Black Press will broadcast live over several social media channels. Viewers can witness history by tuning in to Facebook.com/BlackPressUSA, and BlackPressUSATV on YouTube.
The Washington Informer, Baltimore Times, Texas Metro News, Westside Gazette, Houston Forward Times, Cincinnati Herald, Houston Defender, Arizona Informant, and many others will share the stream over their robust social media platforms.
Such cooperation allows for millions of African Americans to receive timely election news from the Black Press.
Among the long list of individuals scheduled to participate are Former Vermont Governor and one-time Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Texas Democratic Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Illinois Democratic Congressman Danny K. Davis, Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, and Black Women’s Roundtable Convener Melanie Campbell.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office said they were working to block time for his appearance.
National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Political Correspondent Lauren Burke, NNPA Columnist and Houston Forward Times Associate Editor Jeffrey Boney, Washington Informer Editor D. Kevin McNeir, Mississippi Link Editor Edelia “Dr. Jay” Carthan, Texas Metro News Correspondent Ashley Moss, NNPA Columnist Charlene Cromwell, Los Angeles Sentinel Editor Brandon Brooks, AFRO DC Editor Micha Green and correspondent Alexis Taylor also plan to join the unprecedented broadcast.
NNPA Chair Karen Carter Richards and NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. will help kick-off coverage at 7 p.m. EST.
“I’m so excited about this,” said Richards, who is also publisher and CEO of the Houston Forward Times. “This goes to show how powerful the Black Press of America is, especially when we work together.”
Throughout the evening, staff members from many of the 230 publications and media companies in the Black Press family will join the broadcast to provide updates from battleground and swing states like Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, Arizona, Virginia, and California.
Among the publishers participating are Jan Michele Kearney of the Cincinnati Herald, Denise Rolark Barnes of the Washington Informer, Patrick Washington of the Dallas Weekly, Cheryl Smith of Texas Metro News, and Karen Carter Richards of the Houston Forward Times.
The extensive list of publishes also include James Madison of the Florida Sun, Kevin Seraaj of the Orlando Advocate, Pamela Bakewell of the Los Angeles Sentinel, Paul Cobb of the Oakland Post, Bernie Foster of The Skanner, Chris Bennett from the Seattle Medium, Jackie Hampton of the Mississippi Link.
Also scheduled to participate are Fran Farrer of County News in Charlotte, N.C., Calvin Anderson of Memphis New Tri-State Defender, Sonny Messiah Jiles of The Defender Network in Houston, Dr. John Warren of the San Diego Voice and Viewpoint, Trennie Williams of the Memphis Silver Star News, and Hiram Jackson of Real Times Media, Lynn Jones of the Jacksonville Free Press, Naba’a Muhammad of The Final Call, and Larry Lee of the Sacramento Observer.
More than 193 years ago, and before the end of slavery in America, the Black Press founders proved themselves bold advocates of truth, justice, and freedom.
Free African Americans John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish opened the Freedom’s Journal doors on March 16, 1827.
They unabashedly published editorials ridiculing slavery, racial discrimination, and the overall injustices faced by Black people.
While white-owned newspapers openly supported slavery, lynching, and other biases, Freedom’s Journal stood its ground, deriding those established American practices.
Today, the Black Press of America has maintained its standing as the trusted voice for all Black communities, and it’s more than 230 member newspapers, and media companies are represented by the 80-year-old NNPA.
“This is the most important election in history, and it’s important that the Black Press covers this and the progress of Black Americans and provides an interpretation of the events involved in our progress,” Chavis declared.
“No other print or digital media serves in this role quite like the Black Press.”
