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- To: brc-news@xxxxxxx
- Subject: [BRC-NEWS] An Open Letter to Dr. Mary Frances Berry
- From: Walter Turner <waturner@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 02:43:28 -0700 (PDT)
[Moderator: More info on the situation: <http://www.savepacifica.net/>]
What: Open Letter to Dr. Mary Frances Berry
From: The African American Programmers at KPFA Radio
May 21, 1999
Dear Dr. Berry,
We, the African American programmers at KPFA radio have been active
participants in the ongoing staff protest against Pacifica's recent
management decisions. We have a unique vantage point regarding your
statements that you would like to "increase diversity" at the station.
We are therefore compelled to share our views with you.
First, we must acknowledge that, as a whole, we were honored when you took
the post of head of Pacifica in 1998. Your impeccable track record for
advocacy of African Americans over the years has been an inspiration to
all of us. We were therefore looking forward to your wisdom and guidance
regarding the many changes at KPFA over the years. The instability and
controversy over KPFA management over the past five years has hindered
many potential efforts to address KPFA's African American staffing needs
and programming needs to the black community.
We have been gravely concerned since 1995 when the Third World Department
was reorganized and dismantled. During the past several years of changes
and re-changes, we have lost a number of outstanding African American
programmers and producers from the airways, including Bari Scott, Peja
Peja, Oba T'Shaka, Khalid Abdullah Al-Monsour and Sister Makinya. Although
we have been encouraged by the addition of new programmers such as Greg
Bridges, Kevin Cartwright and Sheryl Flowers, we continue to work toward
the increased development of programming directed toward the African
American community and the larger diverse Bay Area community. It is
important to note that under the leadership of Nicole Sawaya, we have the
beginnings of a voice that is clear and responsible in creating diverse
programs for the Bay Area community.
Ultimately we, the KPFA African American programmers, believe that it is
KPFA's internal business to determine the "diversity" of station staff and
on-air programming and, as such, we reject the notion that any stated need
for "diversity" be construed as a legitimate argument for the "changes" at
KPFA, beginning with the dismissals of Nicole Sawaya and Larry Bensky.
KPFA's African American programmers will not be complicit in any Pacifica-
driven purge of KPFA staffers under the guise of "diversity."
We believe that the best way to diversify KPFA is to facilitate and
support the programmers and staff that are at KPFA today and are working
toward that goal. A fractured, untrustworthy management is incapable of
making decisions with the foresight that can bring about meaningful change
for African Americans in the KPFA community.
Dr. Berry, we cannot overemphasize the seriousness of the situation at
KPFA. The crisis that has ensued as a result of the actions of Lynn
Chadwick has threatened the diverse program base that we are building in
both listenership and financial support. We urge you to come to the Bay
Area to engage in discussions and mediations with the goal of ending these
"confrontations" and "tensions" as soon as possible.
Further, you must appreciate that we as African Americans programmers are
in a position to encourage and cultivate the African American community
toward a growing support of KPFA and that you must play a key role by
doing whatever is in your power, and the power of Pacifica to resolve
these management issues and clear the way for community radio to do what
it does best.
Sincerely,
Nick Alexander
Dennis Bishop
Greg Bridges
Kevin Cartwright
David "Davy D" Cook
Doug Edwards
Sheryl Flowers
Wendell Harper
David McBurnie
Lewis Sawyer
Walter Turner
Rickey Vincent
Akilah Zainabu
-30-
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