How do we actively support systemic change? Where do we start? Can our powerful Historic Black Colleges and Universities community come together to turn the tide?
For ten years, I was a news announcer at a leading Baltimore radio station. I was a nice guy. Good at my job.
And for ten years, I watched a parade of white hires.
Sure, there were a few Asians, a handful of Blacks, always for “community outreach” and similar “minority jobs.” I never saw an African American employee promoted.
Yet I felt attached to my weekly paycheck. So I went along and got along.
One day, the station manager came down to sit in on my news team meeting. He sat in the back listening, quietly tapping his index finger. Once the scheduled agenda was done, he asked, “Anyone want to discuss anything else?”
Maybe I woke up on the crazy side of the bed that morning, but I thought it was time for an honest conversation. “Black people,” I said.
As a reporter, I gave the facts. All of them. I pulled no punches.
I gave numbers of hires and turnover by race in the news department. I described the roles of African American employees, from janitor to community liaison. And I highlighted that no Black person had been promoted.
But my facts didn’t help. I was met with abject silence.
Then the station manager finally said, “Some Black bosses don’t hire white people. I don’t hire Black people. I don’t care.”
Most of us have worked for folks like that. If racism doesn’t directly affect them, they don’t care.
Much of the work on race relations in American is spent shutting such blatant racism down. It is a heavy lift.
Over 60% of Fortune 1000 companies now have minority recruitment strategies. These policies create numerical targets and lessen obviously racist practices.
But that’s not enough.
For ten years at the radio station, I faced no overt racism. But the systemic racism was there: there were few Black employees and virtually no advancement opportunities for them. And worse, there was no room for discussion. No room for change.
You see, people leave when they face a cultural gap. When we can’t communicate openly, we find no true connection and we exit.
After my conversation with the manager, my white colleagues watched me furtively, out of the corner of their eye. Some told me, “That wasn’t the right time nor place.” Maybe. Meaningful, change-making conversations can be uncomfortable.
But is there a right time and place? I feel it’s always the right time to do the right thing — even when it is uncomfortable.
The thing is: honest, fact-based, and yes, sometimes uncomfortable communication clears the air. It opens the door. It is how we change things.
Sixteen years after that conversation with the manager, my old radio station hired its first African American news director. Current staff say that my uncomfortable discussion back then planted the seed for the change.
Now is the time to accelerate such change. The current civil unrest is fostering uncomfortable, change-making conversations like never before. People are open to bridging cultural divides, including between the HBCU community and corporate America.
We can each help improve society. Speak up and engage in constructive exchange.
And this is where Heritage Sports comes in. We air content that entertains and programs that deliver meaningful debate. And, we designed the initiative, Extending the Family: Bridging the Cultural Divide Between Corporate America and the African American Community through HBCU Athletic Events.
Black Americans control $1.2 trillion in spending. That’s more than the 15th largest economy in the world. We represent a powerful voice in the business conversation.
So play your part as the HBCU community connects American businesses and the Black community. We are leaders in our communities. Help us step up our efforts and deliver meaningful change.
Tune in to HSRN: a partner to the HBCU community. We cover the most HBCU matchups and discussion of issues important to the future of our community: topics like business, education, and health.
How do you think our HBCU community delivers change? How can we deliver even more? Hit reply and share your thoughts.
And listen to HSRN.com. Enjoy great sports while you awaken your power and engage more deeply with the HBCU family.
Lamont Germany
General Manager
HSRN.com