NABJ’s decision to give a thumbs down to Stephen A. Smith due to his “recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media,” wasn’t surprising or unwarranted.
But Smith’s decision to run to Fox News and News Nation was a huge and disappointing surprise, one that sadly exemplifies a much bigger and reoccurring issue.
The disrespect by Black talent towards Black media, especially in sports.
Early in their careers, many Black athletes receive coverage and support from Black media. Yet once they achieve success, many shift their attention to mainstream media, which ultimately harms the reputation of the Black platforms and voices that supported them when others wouldn’t.
Kyle T. Mosely, founder of HBCU Legends, addressed that issue in his post on X when he asked “Why are our people pessimistic about the reports from our media?”
“We trust Schefter, Shams, and guys who crossover to cover our “big” stories, versus our own,” wrote Mosely. “I don’t see half the negative comments from our people when they enter the HBCU space. Rumors and conjectures won’t be reported here.”
His point is relevant to the NABJ-Stephen A. situation, but it also reminded me of the many times I’ve encountered the same issue of Black athlete distrust and dismissal in my sports media career.
Yet this issue isn’t always of their own doing.
Many times, their publicists or management are responsible for the (conscious) decision not to engage with Black media. Sometimes it’s about money, but other times it cuts deeper and becomes a dismissive slap in the face to Black outlets, many of which were there for them when other outlets showed no interest.
At one time, Black media was the only place Black athletes could receive any coverage.
When Negro League baseball was ignored by the national press, publishers like the Chicago Defender, Pittsburgh Courier and New York Amsterdam News, and individuals like Sherman “Jocko” Maxwell, stepped in and became trusted resources for both Black athletes and fans.
And while Black media has faced its challenges over the years, many traditional platforms still exist and new platforms like Capital B and The Hub.news (which First and Pen partners with) have grown over the past few years.
To be fair, many athletes have launched their own platforms to tell their stories, which is understandable.
But ignoring Black media for mainstream media continues the devaluation of the former and pushes people to the latter for stories that once were almost exclusively told by Black media.
While Stephen A. has done his share to support aspiring Black journalists and media pundits, he has also chosen to play contradicting sides to play the ratings game and build his career.
That’s both dangerous and irresponsible, particularly when he responds with more vigor for criticism from some (Black women) than others (Tr**p), so being called out by NABJ was warranted.
Smith is entitled to respond, but giving mainstream platforms, especially Fox News, the first opportunity to discuss Black issues, belittles Black media and empowers mainstream media’s continued dismissal of Black outlets and voices.
Black culture has always faced infiltration and integration by mainstream media once reaching what the latter deems as “critical mass.” That’s when it’s absorbed and, many times, killed off by groups that don’t understand it or eliminates it by design i.e. “Woke” culture.
Black sports fans helped fuel Stephen A.’s rise, and while he does give back, his antics and ambitions have turned off many who once supported him.
As we remain under attack by a racist and vindictive administration, Black athletes/celebrities must remember Black media, and the voices that fuel it, was created to be a trusted resource that supported, informed, strengthened and united communities through news and information others refused to share.
And in the current times we’re in, supporting those outlets and those voices is just as crucial as it has always been.
