Urban Unrest

26 March 2007 | Programming | Ernesto Aguilar

Sunday night, Obidike Kamau and Akua Fayette, hosts of KPFT’s wildly successful Black talk program Self-Determination, welcomed me to participate in an on-air forum on programming and the Black community. It was a wonderful experience, and this is my reportback to you on it.

The show kicked off with a brief discussion about programming, my history at Pacifica and what I look for in programming. By 8:30, we dived headlong into calls and spent the rest of the program addressing all manner of issues. I’ll sum up a few questions for you.

Caller “Barry” asked why KPFT doesn’t host conservatives to do programming. I replied that who gets to do programming is a complex and open question, putting our values of dialogue in contention with the popular belief that conservatives have other venues and should not be permitted on KPFT.

Caller “Yvonne” suggested more historical Black perspective programming; and said she thought sometime in afternoon would be better, and that a Tuesday or Wednesday is good. She praised the Pacifica Radio Archives. In addition, she suggested that KPFT add generational family programming as well as programming on community services.

Caller “Ted” asked if I cared to hear from the Local Station Board as a unit on matters of programming. I said yes (I think it’s good to hear from everyone) and no (many board members have enough tasks in governance without asking them to be engaged in programming placement, which can be an endless discussion). I support the Program Council, as an advisory board, as the body staff and the board created. This issue was far more complex than we could have reasonably gotten into.

Caller “Olerimi” asked for more programming about books, particularly alternative history books. I applaud this idea.

Caller “David” questioned KPFT’s Haitian program for reportedly not speaking in support of Jean Bertrand Aristide. I believe this kind of issue, in which we review content, is similar to the matter of conservatives — specifically, at what point do we stop speech — and remains an open question..

Several callers did not like Spanish-language programming but others did appreciate it. Virtually every call was complimentary of our program mix. Special thanks to caller “Talib,” who was influenced by KPFT while in prison, and says he now tells people he knows to listen to the station for truthful information.

I enjoyed this program, and owe a big thank you to Obidike Kamau and Akua Fayette for their hospitality. I think this was one of the best dialogues with the Black community on programming. As far as on-air stuff, it was the first, but likely to not be last. Thanks to all who tuned in.

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