KPFA-An Open Letter to Dr. Mary Frances Berry Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Fri, 28 May 1999 02:43:28 -0700 (PDT) source - Walter Turner [Moderator: More info on the situation: ] What: Open Letter to Dr. Mary Frances Berry 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- [Messages on BRC-NEWS may be forwarded and cross-posted, as long as proper attribution is given to the author and originating publication (including the email address and any copyright notices), and the wording is not altered in any way, other than for formatting. As a courtesy, when you cross-post or forward, we'd appreciate it if you mention that you received the info via the BRC-NEWS list. Thank you.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRC-NEWS: Black Radical Congress - General News/Alerts/Announcements Subscribe: Email "subscribe brc-news" to ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytrc-05.28.99-23:14:09-29617