If you’re tuning in regularly to watch your favorite black voices on CNN, they won’t be on the air much longer.
CNN is parting ways with long-established voices of Soledad O’Brien and Roland Martin and the network may also be planning to say goodbye to Donna Brazile, a Democratic strategist and CNN’s only African American female commentator.
In addition, Mark Whitaker, executive vice president and managing editor of CNN, who is also black, left the network in January.
The move by CNN to eliminate these high-profile black personalities while hiring three white commentators around the same time has resulted in frustration among black journalists and led to a meeting with Jeff Zucker, the head of CNN Worldwide, and members of The National Association of Black Journalists.
“With O’Brien’s departure, Suzanne Malveaux will be the only black weekday anchor. On the weekends there are [Fredricka] Whitfield, Don Lemon, and Victor Blackwell. [Isha Sesay anchors part of “Anderson Cooper 360,” and Lisa Sylvester does news updates for “The Situation Room,” Richard Prince wrote in his diversity column, “Journal-isms.”
And, according to CNN, the network recently hired Jake Tapper and Chris Cuomo from ABC and Rachel Nichols from ESPN – all of whom are white.
Martin’s contract with CNN ends on April 8 and there are many African American journalists who feel that CNN is rapidly losing authentic black commentators to voice concerns of African Americans and speak about critical social issues from a black perspective.
Still, there is speculation that CNN could soon hire other black commentators like Van Jones, a former Obama administration official, Cornell Belcher, President Obama’s pollster during the presidential campaign, and Charles Blow, a columnist with The New York Times.
But here’s some good news: Even though CNN may be losing several black commentators, O’Brien will still produce her “Black in America” documentaries for CNN — and perhaps other networks — through her new production company.
“There’s so many great stories to tell,” O’Brien told The New York Times.
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She’s not black. Her mother is half-black and half-hispanic. Her father is white. That makes her one quarter black, one quarter hispanic, and half-white. If she’s black, then my car has a full tank of gas when the needle says I only have a quarter tank of gas. Same logic, Right?
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I keep reading how we have to own our media. This is much easier said than done. It’s a business. Remember when BET had its news shows before they sold out. They did not have the money to have correspondents all over the world then they ended it. Also, we need to be on way more than one network, or be reporters at more than one newspaper, our voice is much more vast than that.
Every year they come out with statistics on how much money a group spends. We have the money – we just don’t have UNITY. Mexicans (Latino is not a race – topic for another day) I see with their own stations. Until we unite on something – we will always get what we have always get. Someone else cancelling our services and saying thanks but no thanks….
I watch CNN sometimes..& I’ll continue to watch..lets be strong adults here..ya’ll know black folk do things to each other..so stop tripping! I’m sure some of ya’ll still hangout with “Black folk”..so why judge??? I was harassed by black folk at work..SOOO lets keep it moving. Do whatever you want to do at your “Black” businesses white folk do. I’m a African Am. woman…see I know some of ya’ll don’t like me already…Lol
Well i guest in the back rooms at CNN they are mad at Obama and the progress of Black folks so let just boycott them and go to MSNBC and other station that welcome us. I learned a long time ago that my money will spend were i need it to. Let them depend on the whites for support just like Mitt Romey did. So let move on we are free now.
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I’m done with cnn, moving on to MSNBC
I’M done with all of them – i read books instead,,,
It breaks my heart to see CNN come to such shame……and all this time I thought I was the only one who noticed the change…..
Roland Martin and Soledad O’Brien (She ain’t Black!!!) getting fired from CNN, I say so what!!!!! Some of the posters say Black folks should have they own media, true dat. Also, Black people should support existing Black media like Black newspapers.
Hey, I watch MSNBC just like I use to watch CNN. ALL THE TIME!!!
Perhaps Jeff Zucker is related to James Wagner, President of Emory University. Mr. Wagner’s recent comments regarding theThree-Fifth Compromise is another example of wider racial problems in America. Mr. Wagner suppose to be a leader of a major University but he used the Three-Fifth Compromise as an example of how people with different viewpoints can come to a resolution. In other words, he looks at black people as less than a human being. In fact, Wagner as well as several white Emory professors have demonstrated that they do not value black people. Based on Wagner’s statements, it appears that he believes in the inherent superiority of one race over another. Soledad’s next story should be “Racism at Major (very expensive) Universities”
My question is do we value ourselves?? Who gives a damn what these professors think. If we are powerful – and responsible black people – WE WOULDN’T CARE because we would be too busy building our futures.
We keep falling for the same old trap time and time again. We wonder why no one place value on us – hell we don’t value ourselves..
Great point! However, unfortunately, regardless of planning and preparing, minorities are powerless at these University. The tone of any organization and insititution is set at the top. For example, if a leader is racist, some or most of his followers may be able to succeed at treating minorities like they are less than a person (Three-Fifth). For example, white professors at Emory (and other institutions) have a tremendous amount of power. I have witnessed acts such as mis-grading final exams, changing exam questions after the submission of the final exam, and other unbelievable acts by these professors. All of these acts were committed because a graduate student complained about gender/racial discrimination and bullying. Well, the white professors Won the battle as the graduate student was expelled three months before her graduation.
I understand the points u are making – but if we remember our HISTORY. Booker T Washington was trying to prepare us for the FUTURE with his Tuskegee Institute of self reliance – but did we listen to him. No our people got caught up in calling him an UNCLE TOM and the disagreement between him and W. E. B. Dubois. We fail to realize both of their ideologies – were needed.
We have had so many messengers come our way but yet we fail to hear the messages. But we waste time dealing with people and institutions that are out to destroy us. No one can DESTROY US both US. You know from where i sit – we are doing a DAMN good job of it..
Well when WE don’t OWN our OWN – CNN can do as it please.
Get over it people – STOP BEGGING – LET’S BUILD WHAT WE WANT – DAMN!!!!!
Thats right… Don’t complain about white folks decision. I stopped watching that channel years ago. Black folk start creating your own like Oprah Soledad instead of complaining all the time.
Not only Black Journalist but people peorid need to take a stand and let it be known that enought is enough!!!!!
I rarely watched CNN during the election. Their coverage was much more negative in my opinion. While they have a few Black personalities remaining, they have not given any African American their own show. Very disappointed and I will continue to go to other networks for my news.
I prefer to watch MSNBC too. You know I think it’s a shame that we are still living among racist individiuals. I enjoyed watching CNN because yes, you allowed hosts like Soledad and Roland Martin. But now you can forget it.
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What the hell is wrong with the world. It can never go back in time. Where one door close a better one opens. That’s what I say. All the Black newscasters should get together and open there own station.
I am so sick of blatant racism, every where you look. Blacks should boycott cnn.
I watch Soledad and will miss her on Starting Point. Never watch any one else on CNN. I cannot tolerate Wolf Blitzer for one second. He has a tendency to be degrading to black folk. CNN is not who they use to be. I would like to see MSNBC hire Soledad. CNN cancelled a show she hosted in the past. They seem to push her around at will.
these people stunk and could not garner an audience. Why is it always the RACE card and NOT about merit and results?
I watch Soledad and will be disappointed to see her show go. I’ve followed her career since she was on the Today Show on NBC. Wherever she goes her fans will migrate with her.
I watched CNN before Ms. O’brien or Mr. Martin were ever thought of at CNN, and I will watch after they are gone.
Both are talented and have something to offer, so they will land on their feet!
Good luck to both!
I said weeks ago that when JEFF ZUCKER was brought in as CEO @ CNN that ALL THE BLACK FOK THAT WORK AT CNN WERE GOING TO GET FIRED AND REPLACED BY WHITE JOURNALISTS!
Y’all Better Start Raising HELL Before ALL of THE GOOD BLACK JOURNALISTS ARE GONE! This is a shame. They KEEP TAKING BACK THE GAINS!
Is it RACIAL??? YES!!!! SOLEDAD O’BRIEN and ROLAND MARTIN, both GONE! What Else Would You Like To Call it??? FYI…a whole lot of the Black Fok that work at CNN came from NBC! FYI…Remember Zucker was once the CEO at NBC!
This is what happens when you don’t own your own media.
I totally agree – u get no argument from me on that POINT.
Black folks need to wake the hell up!
Lets STOP wasting our MONEY on BS – with all the MONEY spend – we could have built 2 media companies by now…
First of all Soledad is Biracial and has identified as such. Stop using the one drop rule for your own racial gain.
True dat on your post!!!!
We can thank the “Joyner Jinx” for Roland being put off the network.
I don’t watch CNN,Fox or HLN (These stations have a little racism going on). I am sure Soledad is marketable for a network that is more sophisticated than CNN!
I think Zucker has caused an unrepairable problem. This market will not soon forget, and somehow will taint other CNN ethnic markets. Not a good move guy. Not a clever move. The country is turning brown, didn’t you notice. Bringing in any new brown will not melt away the damage. You could have done this a better way.
No biggie i left CNN awhile back. They were never on in prime time anyway. I will catch them where ever, they go i know I will see them on another channel.
I will watch MSNBC, I like them better anyway! CNN has a racial problem.
hi this is a real joke. cnn has lost a lot of back viewers. i say all of us let go to msnbc, because they let their people tell the truth and thye tell it from their hearts not their thoughts.