![]() That gave me the strength and energy I needed to pick myself up out of my pity party and get back to work. I cried me a river, so overwhelmed by their generosity and willingness to work for a future they believed in. But when I called the podcast hosts with the discouraging news that I didn't have money to pay them, something magical happened: They all agreed to do their shows for free until I could make the turn with finances. Investors who'd promised working capital pulled back as the economy tightened. I couldn't have my engineer, an immunocompromised cancer survivor, set up my studio. I had to cancel my meetings with advertisers who wanted to partner with the company. Two months after announcing my startup, the hustle stalled. I was plowing full speed ahead until the pandemic hit and paralyzed the world. I put up my own money, took a loan from my parents and was heartened by the promises of several investors who were ready to join me. In addition to finding outstanding Black talent, I bought equipment and software and found a marketing partner. ![]() We launched eight different podcasts, with themes ranging from travel to mental health to autism awareness to corporate diversity, fashioning ourselves as a one-stop-shop for cultural relevance and creativity. ![]() I connected with Black subject experts who had been shut out of traditional mainstream media and gave them a spotlight to share their knowledge as hosts. I founded SHElettaMakesMeLaugh as a podcasting platform for Black folks, a place to share our stories and talk about our concerns with listeners hungry to hear voices like their own. In his acceptance speech, he said something so profound that it liberated me: "Instead of fighting for a seat at the table, build your own." In that moment, I saw that my way forward was to become my own boss, not just for myself but for other talented African-Americans whose voices had been muffled or muzzled. So I was ripe to hear the words of Tyler Perry when I happened to be watching the 2019 BET Awards. That's part of the reason why the Los Angeles Times and The Kansas City Star both recently apologized to their Black readers, admitting their historically biased coverage of African-Americans. Too often, the only appearance of a Black person on a newscast is in a mugshot from a police department. Throughout my career, I've sat in newsrooms pitching stories that my white colleagues didn't understand or value. Mainstream media has traditionally ignored the contributions, celebrations and concerns of communities of color. I've grown accustomed to being passed over for jobs I was clearly qualified for, and surely, I'm not alone. I'm an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster with 20 years of experience in radio and television, but as an African-American woman, I've had to fight for every job I ever got, always working to prove my resume was not a fluke.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |