USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: African Community Proposed fundraiser for WPFW/ Africans and the Media & ...

Happy ThanksGiving.

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On Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 3:26 PM, <MsJoe21St@aol.com> wrote:

Hello Yaya and all:

 

Thanks. Great initiative from Yaya.  My email is not to contradict or duplicate the ideas but just an FYI to share with some background.  Any effort that benefits the African community is a win-win outlet. Let more come forth with the goodwill.

 

The media can be a potent tool that shapes perspective and reactions. It can make, break or even distort.  I am not digressing, just to indicate how the media affects outcomes. Obama was flummoxed as Romney floored him with peppered utterances during the  first debate. Ol'  boy came back with a vengeance perfected by Biden.  That is the media! it  ran with it and  shaped ideas on who won or lost. Volunteers were elated or deflated. Rush Limbaugh rubbish-talking galvanizes the right and a Republican aspirant dare not cross him on the bad side. Meanwhile, Rachel Maddow  is the perfect answer from the left with zingers. Wink, wink,  Yaya and myself will not agree on this. I am an Obama-nite; he was for Romney and that is the pleasure of democracy. 

 

But we can  agree on this topic as Africans: If a community cannot self-define, external forces may  define what it is or should be - true or false, even if detrimentally. Therefore, in summary, the community needs the media to self-preserve, mobilize, connect and advance its development. In the rapidly growing, new and emerging Continental African population, the quest cannot be overemphasized. So every effort is encouraged - from local TV channels, coverage of African events (thanks to  Christophe of Africa Diaspora Info), print media to socially responsible blogs.

 

For starters, the African community should be conversant with the mission of Pacifica Radio (WPFW is the equivalent of a subsidiary - a local station) as an alternative media vested insocial justice and community empowerment.

 

WPFW is progressive in its public affairs programming and one of its core values is not to accept sponsorship from "special interests" or commercial-like sources to promote dogmas.  The tradition helps in keeping the programming free from undue biases, allowing the Jazz and Juice.....smile everyone....to flow.

 

An African Community Concert Gala to benefit Pacifica Radio WPFW is being planned in May 2014 around the African Liberation Day. It would be are-birth of the African Community -WPFW relationship, inspired, in part, by the responsiveness of the Chairman of the Local Board of WPFW - Yves Point du Jour and the impressive personalities, including the veteran News  Affairs Director Gloria Minot, who attended the Mandela-King event on Oct. 11, 2013.  I spoke with the interim General Manager Michelle Price and she expressed goodwill in  interfacing with the community but she was traveling.  The highlighting attendance of WPFW leadership and management was a homerun!

 

 I sayrebirth because ONCE UPON A TIME,  there was  heightened, mutual awareness  between  WPFW and the African community in the mid-1990s.  In fact, as a program host at WPFW, I organized the first African Community-WPFW meeting at a former African-owned night-club called Sugar  Kane  Palace on Riggs Rd. The community outreach was based on a needs assessment solicited by the then General Manager.

 

A vibrant cross-section of African community leaders, from Algerian to Zimbabwe, and cultural attaches from embassies attended the capacity filled event with a united presence of  African veterans on WPFW airwaves: CeCe ModupeFadope  and Dr. Kofi Kissi Dompere.  It is  always good to remember history before we forget........hahaha..

 

It was the essence of "community media" - meaning the programming was relevant and infused in the community. During the drives, more Africans called in and donated.  Ibrahim Kan Jah Bah, of the then UDC Radio, was also holding forth on African programming.

 

The cumulative effects of the media enabled outreach projected the presence of the nascent but emerging African population with a rich blend of music, discourse and current affairs and..... what is happening in the community. The dynamics fostered a cohesive and communicative community and,  in the process,  shaped the  IDENTITY of the new population.  African food and  clothing stores,  night clubs, music sales, events gained from the popularization. 

 

May we mentally stand up and give the pioneers an ovation: Dr. Kofi Kissi Dompere, Cece Modupe Fodupe, Charlie Dee and  Ibrahim Kan Jah Bah

 

 Dr. Dompere, a PHD and then head of the Economics Department of Howard University,  played music.  You see, some ignorantly believed people who play music for listening and dancing pleasures are semi-illiterate DJs. Then Dr. Dompere will wax philosophical to the amazement of the confused  - who may be using the show for their entertainment or taping the music. They would get mad and say things like... ..stop talking, we are not in African history class;  play the music.

 

The heightened African socio-cultural activities shattered the stereotypical image of Africans.  Some put Hollywood and think tankers to shame.  Bring it on - haute couture or  book, there was no shortage of sapeurs and experts.

 

It got groovier. This period coincided with the first African Political Action Committee called EMERGING FORCE! that captured the imagination of the Clinton/Gore reelection folks. People, I tell you, we have been to some MOUNTAINS.......lol. What is happening today is  baby and yeye stuff.  Then was then! Mamadi Diane of AMEX talked of report cards for elected officials. 

 

Okay, I will not even start with the dazzling array of African women who debated the best of the best on world-view  that should shape global perspectives,  including the UN Women Conference in Beijing. Where is the erudite Dr. Catherine Uzoma Ononkwo? O yes, conferences were held even on female circumcision or mutilation. The word used sparked perspectives, including whether feminism is alien or indigenous. All these were propelled by announcements and discourse on 'PWF. Sometimes, we don't pronounce the W.

  

The goals and impact objectives were clear with alternative media as a self-empowerment vehicle for sustainable community development, which is multi-dimensional.

 

As WPFW went through a series of management and structural changes, Managers and Leadership had varied levels of interests and responses - and so did the level of awareness and engagement in the community.

 

The embracing leadership of Yves and his presentations at two respective African events (Montgomery County on May 14 and the Mandela King event on Oct 11)  ignited what was or could be.  Community residents and leaders saw an opportunity  to build a two-way relationship between the African community and WPFW. It goes beyond one fundraiser; it includes  ongoing membership and volunteerism. 

 

We are mindful of the natural tendency: Communities do not naturally get involved when they do not know what the  involvement or giving has to do with their specific  empowerment. That is where programming comes to bear. Support for  AFRICAN PROGRAMMERS / PROGRAMING DURING FUNDRASING DRIVES is a RATIONAL IMPERATIVE.

 

Currently, Mwiza Munthali, host of Africa Now! is on Wednesday. Hats off to Mwiza. Dr. Kofi Kissi and Charlie Dee are still on and have been since coconut trees were planted. LOL. 

 

To wit, if the African community is considered a target community of WPFW and the African community is aware, it is only normal to see evidence of such through support for  African programming.   Conscientious programmers use outlets to facilitate local community development. Therefore, contents have to reflect the resonating  needs and aspirations of the people from experiential, hands-on perspectives.  If these are not happening, it is difficult to realize community support.

 

Obviously, an alternative media with the stature of WPFW is  a priceless outlet for disadvantaged communities like ours - the African community - when news are often relegated to episodic  bizarreness and the scandalous by mainstream, corporate  media giants that can be so unschooled and narrow in their reporting on African development.

 

For examples, the mainstream media has no second thought in flashing naked African children at various stages of despair but they do not tell you that African children in the US are among the best performers, evidenced by standardized test scores and African students suffer no achievement gap. They show burning bushes but not the skyscrapers in Africa. Free and fair elections are not reported but sensations sells. Then they will look for an African expert happy to oblige to some numbskull line of questioning. It goes like:

 

With us in the studio or on line is Dr. Chief .........Dr, tell the listeners about the machetes and what contributed to the bloodshed? By the time the 5 minutes cockamamie segment is over, machetes and bloodshed are the contents of the African news, totally devoid of context.

 

Who can say: Excuse me, let us correct the faulty instincts of the Western press?  Excited experts cannot. You will not be invited again and you will cease to be an expert! LOL.

 

Okay, the above is just to indicate how media can filter its news. So you have to critically examine the source of news, including the context in which news is reported.

 

At community leadership meeting on December 8 at the Fraser Mansion, Yves,  the chairman of the Local Board of WPFW,  is being invited to sensitize community leaders and members on building mutual relationships with WPFW .

 

Hopefully,  the African veterans from the heyday......everyone who graced the air to educate, enlighten and engage...from the Sulaiman Tarawaley to the current volunteers...would be in for the great reunion to benefit WPFW 89.3 FM in an innovative gala concert......

 

 

LONG LIVE ALTERNATIVE MEDIA

LONG LIVE WPFW, 89.3 FM

 

As I said, my mail is just to share or add.

 

Thanks Yaya. Keep the community informed on your event

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

 

Best,

MsJoe

Alumni, WPFW Radio, 89.3 FM

 

 

  

 

In a message dated 11/27/2013 3:40:29 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, futatoro@gmail.com writes:

Hello General Manager of WPFW Michelle.

Thank you for Town Hall Meeting last Thursday. As I said I am interested getting the African Immigrant Community to know about WPFW and also do an annual fundraiser for the station. I hope by now Tiffany would have briefed you about what we are proposing. When you respond to this, I will then send to you all the emails on this matter. I think from my professional perspective, the respond so far is not acceptable conduct and I hope you can get thing done at a high professional level.

YayaFanusie, Creator, Skills Development Platform-510-459-5395

www.Relationshipsboutique.com

www.usfrica2017tf.com

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: YayaFanusie<futatoro@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 2:43 AM
Subject: African Immingrants Community Proposed fundraser for WPFW-2014
To:
Cc: "info@thehamptoncenter.com"<info@thehamptoncenter.com>, judenyambi<judesamua1@yahoo.com>, cab wpfw<cab.wpfw@mail.com>, nealadams5@aol.com, "mmunthali@transafricaforum.org"<mmunthali@transafricaforum.org>, "Dompere, KofiKissi"<kdompere@howard.edu>, "tamratmedhin ."<littleethiopia@gmail.com>, Evelyn Joe <MsJoe21St@aol.com>, LaminSarr<mlaminsarr@gmail.com>, Rogers Mama <fofanahml@yahoo.com>, "saigobe@lanset.com"<songhai2017@gmail.com>

Tiffany,

This could be WPFW. 

http://www.kpfa.org/craftsfair/

Why Not?

Look is very simple if you people are not interested just let me know. We have already lost a Saturday for the Fundraiser. We can now do it only on a Sunday.

I was at the Town Hall Meeting on Thursday where the new Interim General Manager spoke about the needs of WPFW and she stressed that the financial health of the station is weak.

So I don't know why you as Development Director is not excited about this fundraising opportunity.

Do you want WPFW not to be able to pay its bills?

Please update the new manager about the Fundraiser.

YayaFanusie, PhD

www.coaforum.com

www.wambara.com

 

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