One of the themes that dominated the reflections and comments of speakers during the recent Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), held for five days at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, was the significance of Black narratives.
But it wasn’t just acknowledging our tales of victory achieved despite the hurdles, or examples of courage and persistence that were shared, but the need to pass on these stories to the next generation.
During the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Leadership Awards, several speakers, including noted attorney and civil rights activist Benjamin Crump and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), talked about how the Black Press has been instrumental in their lives since their youth.
Both men noted how the news was received in their homes and then transmitted to others in their respective communities because of stories printed by the Black Press.
In other words, they were informed and ultimately prepared for the future because of truths they learned at the kitchen table.
How many Black families still have intergenerational table talks, which were commonplace in the past? Many families today eat on the run, communicate via text, and rarely have a standard time for dinner when everyone sits at the table and shares what they encountered throughout the day.
Maybe that’s one tradition that African Americans would be wise to resurrect.
For those in Detroit, Black narratives are told in the Michigan Chronicle. In Atlanta, it’s through the Atlanta Voice. In New York City, it’s the Amsterdam News. And in the nation’s capital, it’s The Washington Informer.
The Black Press needs support to continue finding rarely told stories of triumph to share and remain the voice of the Black community. Part of that support comes from sharing local news read in Black Press publications with your village, and talking about the stories on the streets and at home.
With so much misinformation and “fake news,” the Black Press is a reliable source for real stories that are important to preserving African American narratives and furthering Black communities.
Further, the kitchen table is the place to return to for some real talk.
With diversity, equity and inclusion efforts eliminated federally, resulting in a domino effect for private business, it’s important to share, uplift and preserve African American narratives— from reading Black Press articles, to speaking to family during dinner, and engaging with the community.