Are We Too Addicted to Talk Radio to Stand UP?

[Queen Ifama]

I have been aware that a few Black oriented talk radio shows have been cancelled: "As of August 16, 2008 Black Talk Radio, One Black Man and Radio Free Nation have been REMOVED from Blog Talk Radio. Few specifics were given, BTR only cited a violation of the Terms Of Use stating these programs had violated the following:

· is obscene, indecent, offensive, libelous, pornographic, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive, defamatory, unreasonably violent, threatening, intimidating or harassing; contains falsehoods or misrepresentations that could damage BlogTalkRadio or any other person."

Well that is pretty darn vague if you ask me. However, I am waiting for further information. As I read the comments by a BTR hoster named Fred, he offered to suspend his show until this issue was resolved. I concur. We should all go silent until we know what is really going on and I will join Fred, but it would be senseless for Fred and I to discontinue doing our shows when others whose shows have been cancelled, still do shows on BTR under another banner. I was like WTF?????? I often wonder as Internet Radio Show hosts can we become addicted to the "air". I have heard people lamenting that they were cancelled, Black and White for various reasons and I could feel the anguish in their voices. Having the ability to reach thousands, hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of people can be head swelling, I admit. The microphone is a powerful tool and when used correctly can be beneficial to all those who listen to the voice on the other side of it. Yes, I guess that can be a little addictive as we can become drunken with a good gulp of ego.

My reasoning in saying all of this is that these shows were cancelled and we really don't know the reasons why. If you have listened to them I would say they were tame in comparison to some of the crap I hear on BTR. Things are said that are clearly stereotypical and ignorant for sure but the hosts are allowed to remain on air. After all, this is the country of free speech. Right? Wrong!! It appears that Black people aren't allowed to have space for themselves, to create a niche for themselves without having to send an open invitation to white people in general. It is sad but true.


The true reason the Black community back in Tulsa in 1921 was destroyed was because they were doing so well, without white help. I know a lot of us don't want to admit that, but read the story you will see that was the underlying cause. And that is how it always is when Black people decided to do for themselves without asking anyone else for help. They are seen as exclusionary, racist, separatists and so forth, when that has been the call of the day in this country for decades, against THEM. We must explore the psychological reasoning why some white people and some Black people, can't stand it when Black people, identify with being Black. Why is having a Black Talk Radio program so offensive to them? We have been identified, renamed, and branded with brand names like, Nigger, Negro, Colored, African-American since we landed on these shores. But when we decided to choose the main identifier, BLACK which identifies us from everyone else in a COLOR DRIVEN society for sure, people get upset. WE didn't ask for the separation. We didn't ask for the division. I am sure that after enslavement, if Black people had been given 40 acres and a mule and allowed to participate equally in society, we wouldn't be having this discussion. But we know that there was a concerted effort from 1865 to 1965 to legally and illegally exclude Black people from participating in American society as equal citizens. And we also know that every space we have occupied when shared with other people, especially whites we are generally expected to speak and act a certain way.

So the ideology behind creating our own space is so that we can feel free in our discussion, uncompromised by outside influences. I don't see anything wrong with that. But you will remember that there were codes against Black people coming together and this is embedded in the fabric, so the resistance is subconscious as well as conscious to it. You see, this is RACISM in it's purest form. To prevent, suspend, hold up, etc. people of a group (in this case racial) from coming together by any means necessary. To use all one's power and resources to assure that it won't happen. To make sure that they won't be able to compare notes, organize and pool resources, etc..THAT IS RACISM. We have been mislead in what racism truly is. It is not just words, it is WORDS WITH ACTION. The truth is you can "call" me a nigger all day but that can't stop me from eating or taking care of my family. However, you can call me sweetheart and prevent me from getting a job, or a means to support myself and my family because I am Black, THAT is RACISM. RACISM IS POWER. The POWER TO STOP. POWER TO PREVENT someone from involving themselves in the 10 areas of people activityeconomics, education, entertainment, labor, law, politics, religion, sex, war and health.

So the main point here is removing these shows justified or was is a racist move based on the potential these shows garnered for bringing Black people, and not just Black people but other people of like minds together to look at the real issues in this country? To connect the dots of what affect us all? And if it is the latter what can we do about it? Absence and Silence has been key mechanism of protest for a people who are out number. Are we so addicted that we could not utilize the tools of Absence and Silence to show our support for those who have been shut down for no viable reason? Can we demand a reason? I amwilling to participate in an ORGANIZED effort to send a message that we want answers or at least give the "offenders" some answers to report back to us. These thoughts are not JUST for Black people but all people who may have their shows cancelled for frivilous reasons. Don't forget: YOU COULD BE NEXT!!

[hotae numui]

htp
May be the next stage should be to host your own servers

Then you implement and manage your own site. Considering current capacity $1000 should be enough to start and you could expand when necessary.

thee is free software out there that can do all of this. Linux Ubuntu version 8.04 server edition is a good example. With this operating system you can install apache servers webservers email server broadcast servers. you pay for the upkeep . your ipaddress,which will become static so that you can tis it to your web page/site/services

contact you isp and ask them for a static ip address and ask about bandwidth limitations and expansion, or even research remote hosting, and see if you can pay for a site that you yourself administers.
You all need network adminstrator to break free of this particular cycle . I think I have said enough. I am a network adminstrator and I can make one.

hutapo

[Tomi Lee]

You know I agree with a lot of what you are saying, Blacks has been denied our 40 acres and a mule for centuries. The story behind the cancellation was racism between some balcks and whites going at each other. I think that the producers did the right thing in cancelling both shows. "The black show and the white show" if I am ever cancelled off of blogtalkradio I honestly wouldn't care, because I love to speak in public to get my word out. blogtalkradio was a idea that another perosn came up with to make money "that's it' I think freedom of speech should be excercised in whatever one chooses "it's our right" The word nigga was the main conflict about this argument and whites has caused another ruckus about this word. This word is used in the young black community as friendship, older blacks don't like it because they or there parents were apart of slavery and whites called our ancestors this name. So maybe some whites feel a little guilty about what there ancestors did to our ancestors and hate the word as well. This topic has been blown way out of proportion. I am an activist for ex-felons and a motivational speaker to help stop recidivism in our black communities. You can listen in sometimes at blogtalkradio.com/tomi-lee

Lord Bless,

[Black Talk Radio Network™]

The Black Lotus/Asar Imhotep said:

Kiambote Family
As I read the majority of these comments on this thread, the person who makes the most sense is Kiri Love. What I don't understand is if we are so conscious of the universe and how it operates, why would we be surprised that Black shows are being cancelled on BTR given the history of "White" people and how they suppress information coming from African voices? I mean honestly?
The only solution is the same solution that has ALWAYS been the answer and that is to do for self. I mean, it doesn't take much to learn how to create your own platform like Blog Talk. If someone is complaining about putting in the work to create our own platform then there isn't an ounce of consciousness in them. This is what Black Wallstreet was about: creating our own platform.

I am a web developer and graphic designer. It will take some time to develop and test, but in the end it is yours. Kari is right, why would the "White" man allow you to disrespect him on his own ish? That makes no sense. Black people need to get out of this dependency mind set and learn how to code (literally) the Matrix for themselves. This is the only way you will be able to deal with this issue and still be respected as a people.

Even this Black Talk Radio website is coded and developed by white people. It is part of the Ning network also coded by white people. You have access to the same code. Learn it and create your own platform. I have 6 websites all coded by me. Can't no one come and take it down because they don't agree with the content. They can do that on NING. Ning also has a TERMS and CONDITIONS for using their software. So the same can happen to this very page. So don't think you're safe here.

This is what Black people need to learn how to do for self in this new media age:

1) Get your own servers and host your own websites
2) Learn how to stream content
3) Set your own Terms and Conditions
4) Create your own code that you can license out to others like ALL white owned website content providers
5) Compete openly with Blog Talk Radio

It will take work, but let's see how much we will continue to talk and see who is willing to do the work.

I agree with you about developing your own platforms. That is a goal of this organization, developing our own platforms. This takes time, effort and money and we will get there. In the meantime we will use whatever tools we can to do something now instead of waiting to later. We don't have time to wait. I also agree with Brother X, racism is racism no matter who is doing it and we believe in working with anyone who is ethical that supports our vision.

One other thing, you said a mouth full when you said "It will take work, but let's see how much we will continue to talk and see who is willing to do the work.". This goes for all people who claim to support the "movement".

[Black Talk Radio Network™]

Tomi Lee said:

You know I agree with a lot of what you are saying, Blacks has been denied our 40 acres and a mule for centuries. The story behind the cancellation was racism between some balcks and whites going at each other. I think that the producers did the right thing in cancelling both shows. "The black show and the white show" if I am ever cancelled off of blogtalkradio I honestly wouldn't care, because I love to speak in public to get my word out. blogtalkradio was a idea that another perosn came up with to make money "that's it' I think freedom of speech should be excercised in whatever one chooses "it's our right" The word nigga was the main conflict about this argument and whites has caused another ruckus about this word. This word is used in the young black community as friendship, older blacks don't like it because they or there parents were apart of slavery and whites called our ancestors this name. So maybe some whites feel a little guilty about what there ancestors did to our ancestors and hate the word as well. This topic has been blown way out of proportion. I am an activist for ex-felons and a motivational speaker to help stop recidivism in our black communities. You can listen in sometimes at blogtalkradio.com/tomi-lee
Lord Bless,

Hi and welcome to the community Tomi. I must point something out, I don't know what shows you are referring to when you said they were right to cancel both shows. I will point out that at no time ever did Black Talk Radio attack another show, we only responded to the mischaracterization of what our Blog Talk Radio show and this network is about. We were rightfully protecting our image. They were not right to cancel our show for standing up for our character and informing our listeners what we are about in case they were being mislead by haters and liars who then copied what we were doing. Our aim is and has always been to use media in a ethical manner to educate and inform minds. We were called racists simply because we choose to name ourselves Black Talk Radio. We were not created out hate or jealousy for anyone or anything as the other party clearly stated they were but has since deleted that show. If they were born for a positive reason and out of sincerity then certainly their network's growth would be the same as ours. It has not grown beyond the original group of haters and imitators. Even a member of the Blog Talk staff duplicated what we were doing with the Ning Network.

It was named Black Talk because the founder is black, not ashamed of black culture, and we mainly focus on issues disproportionately affecting our black communities but realizing that our issues are common with other group's issues which the mainstream media does not show. However, one should not have to up give his/her cultural identity to be accepted by anyone and "Americans" should realize this more than any as America has many people from different cultural backgrounds that celebrate their culture in various ways. Black people should not be attacked for doing the same. There is also a lack of Black media in mainstream and people are looking for a black media product, so there is also a marketing element to it.

However, we have never restricted our membership based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion or any other criteria. We believe in diversity and like Malcolm X said, "media can be used to help white people eliminate the racism in their hearts and teach black people how to do something for themselves". We are expanding on his vision to use media to educate.

I addressed that issue with a member of BTR management who had my home number and could have called me to discuss it before canceling our show. Since that conversation they have hired a person to check these things out before they just up and cancel a show. It is also because of another issue we had with them that they started offering their host training sessions to all Blog Talk Radio members instead of reserving it for a hand picked few.

We were not made to serve out what was to be a week long suspension. We were reinstated within 2 days. This is a dead issue with Blog Talk as far as I am concerned as we came to an understanding with them and moved on. With all that I have said here today, I feel like I have to take no further part in this discussion because I am looking forward and not behind.

Best Regards,
Scotty Reid

[Black Talk Radio Network™]

The Black Lotus/Asar Imhotep said:

Kiambote Family

As I read the majority of these comments on this thread, the person who makes the most sense is Kiri Love. What I don't understand is if we are so conscious of the universe and how it operates, why would we be surprised that Black shows are being cancelled on BTR given the history of "White" people and how they suppress information coming from African voices? I mean honestly?

The only solution is the same solution that has ALWAYS been the answer and that is to do for self. I mean, it doesn't take much to learn how to create your own platform like Blog Talk. If someone is complaining about putting in the work to create our own platform then there isn't an ounce of consciousness in them. This is what Black Wallstreet was about: creating our own platform.

I am a web developer and graphic designer. It will take some time to develop and test, but in the end it is yours. Kari is right, why would the "White" man allow you to disrespect him on his own ish? That makes no sense. Black people need to get out of this dependency mind set and learn how to code (literally) the Matrix for themselves. This is the only way you will be able to deal with this issue and still be respected as a people.

Even this Black Talk Radio website is coded and developed by white people. It is part of the Ning network also coded by white people. You have access to the same code. Learn it and create your own platform. I have 6 websites all coded by me. Can't no one come and take it down because they don't agree with the content. They can do that on NING. Ning also has a TERMS and CONDITIONS for using their software. So the same can happen to this very page. So don't think you're safe here.

This is what Black people need to learn how to do for self in this new media age:

1) Get your own servers and host your own websites
2) Learn how to stream content
3) Set your own Terms and Conditions
4) Create your own code that you can license out to others like ALL white owned website content providers
5) Compete openly with Blog Talk Radio

It will take work, but let's see how much we will continue to talk and see who is willing to do the work.

Had funny experience with BTR today. After I sent out a site update yesterday announcing we had reached #4 in all time listen too show on BlogTalkRadio in radio, today we were completely removed. This is funny and I really don't care. They won't feature any of our shows and now this. Damn funny to me because our traffic mostly comes from our site and the Widget Box Network on which we are doing very well.

I want to start broadcast our channel shows from this site only as soon as possible. I am looking at software to do that and I have some ideals. But in the long term I am setting a 5 year goal to develop our own software that will rival their platform which seems to be falling apart because of the scripting. I had been talking to a developer in TX and looking at some things he is doing. Can not use his software for radio but we use it for other things but he gave me some things to think about that and what kind of scripting language to stay away from.

Change is coming!

[vinbeazel]

The pioneers in BTR as outreach will look back someday and say whatever happened to those guys we met on BTR? OR they will say what was BTR? Never heard of that! BTR is just the latest if not the greatest tool we have to engage the NEXT generation in the current discussions; we hope that our grandchildren will think that we made up these stories about how people starved in pursuit of paper used to exchange shoddy consumer products!

So the questions about whether we who spend our days building and producing radio shows is a valid one; are we driven by EGO or the Greater Glory of our viSion of a world where food and water are abundant and where people who share what they have are blessed with even greater abundance...

Thanks for asking the hard questions; AT the present, my whole family is waiting for me to abandon my pursuit of wisdumb and go on medicashun or lose my family for my troubles to bring BTR to the Next Generation of Leaders who are standing around waiting for a job to fall out of their Iphones or boost games console! I trust that the Earth will shake the young people from their present state of apathy; every generation has been threatened with extinction and has had to learn how to live with their enemies or be destroyed by them...and Amerika is good at getting everyone at each other's throats,as I saw in the prison system. Those who seek for power do not care where we draw the line; they only want US to line up on one side or the other...but to ALWAYS keep our focus on the Line in the SAND!

Your post inspired me to scribble; maybe we can do a radio show together! I have over a dozen networks on BTR; ALL are free and welcome free thinkers of all cultures. NAMASTE

Vinbeazel ApprenticeTeacher of Bakersfield CA and Ontario K2 Global Success.