By Antonio D. French
Filed Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 12:45 PM
From today's St. Louis American: Labels: Beefs, Commentary
"Reed’s running for aldermanic president opens up his 6th Ward seat. It was rumored that Reed was ready to hand the job to lobbyist and perennially defeated candidate Patrick Cacchione (who, so long as we’re keeping track of apples and oranges, is a white male). Then here comes Kacie Starr Triplett...
"...if you want the political support of folks old enough to be your father or grandfather, next time talk to them about your candidacy before you quit your day job.
Triplett also may not have a pitch-perfect ear for friends, as she is close friends with an avowedly independent local journalist [Antonio French] who seems to have at least one leg in the Republican Party, if attracting exclusive ads from the Jim Talent campaign are any indication."
St. Louis American editors,
What the hell is wrong with you folks over there?
Have you completely forgotten how to build young people up, so now all you can do is take anonymous shots at us every week? Me, Kacie, Jamilah, Talib, Rodney, Yaphett...
What is you guys' problem over there?
At least be man enough to sign the rubbish you write. I have about as much respect for your editorial board as I do an anonymous blog commenter that jabs politicos on their rumored sexual orientations or the number of "baby mamas" they're supposed to have.
In the absence of any kind of real reporting (have you broken a single story this year?) you've turned a once-great newspaper into a gossip rag, something people pick up just to see which local African-American you spit at this week.
And to editor Chris King in particular ("who, so long as we're keeping track of apples and oranges, is a white male"), how do you feel so comfortable tearing down black people, telling us how we are supposed to think politically, when you hide your own race from your readers? I see everyone else's picture in the your paper but yours.
I don't know what you guys think you're doing over there, but it is not journalism. If it were, you might have mentioned in your latest shot at me for allowing Jim Talent to advertise on my website that he has spent much more money advertising in your paper during this campaign.
The American used to be the tool with which blacks on the bottom of the economic and social ladders told their stories to the world up top. Now it's the tool elites use to tell poor and working-class blacks what to think and who to vote for.
And it's a shame. We sure could use a newspaper we trusted in these times.
Antonio D. French
Pub Def Weekly
www.pubdef.net
19 Comments:
Well said Antonio.
It’s upsetting because professional blogs like PubDef.net will eventually replace print media, however the poorest individuals may not have access to the Internet.
A long term solution would be to subsidize City Wide Wireless Internet Access and provide low cost computer classes to individuals who need training. It is definitely possible and I could talk about this forever.
A short term solution would be to get change at most of the local news media outlets in St. Louis. I think the more they shoot themselves in the foot the quicker this will happen. Once their readership drops we will see change.
10/26/2006 1:46 PM
The editor of the St. Louis American is white? Jesus Christ.
10/26/2006 2:10 PM
Well said. The American disappoints me more and more each week. Every time we get near an election they put their blinders on and become this partisan "whore" of a newspaper.
I'm also shocked to learn that the editor of the city's "black newspaper" is white. I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks there is something not quite right with that.
Stay strong PubDef. As you say, "haters".
10/26/2006 2:45 PM
Way to go Antonio! . . and kudos to you Nia. Chris King is much like those plantation owners who used misinformation to keep trouble stirred up between the African captives. He only wants to cause division so that the whites can try to gain control of the 5th Senatorial seat. If he can keep Rodney, Connie (Johnson), Jamilah, Talib and the rest of those who are coming up in the leadership fighting not only will we not have a young progressive in that seat it will go to Tom Villa, just as Jeff Smith did in the 4th.
I hope they all can come together to bring the 5th Senaorial seat to a North St. Louis African-American under 40 years old. As an older person (63years young!) I look forward to more young people getting involved and understand the need to have them serve in these very important positions.
Roland B.
10/26/2006 3:19 PM
"bougie"
Thats awesome!
10/26/2006 6:38 PM
It is a well known tactic in the city to call anyone that you disagree with a Republican. It is exactly like bringing up the "boogeyman" to scare small children when they won't go to sleep.
It is pathetic... the only thing more pathetic is, that it works.
Antonio, just keep reporting the truth and the people with a BRAIN will keep on respecting you.
TRouble
10/26/2006 7:01 PM
Antonio, you go boy! I am so disappointed with the American. It's quite true that it used to be a paper that was held in high esteem in this City. Now, I wouldn't even use it to wrap fish.
The American has turned into a rag that spends its time mainly talking bad about women politicans. It seems that when the Missouri legislature is out of session, the Political Eye gets worse. I believe it's because the paper isn't being fed info from Jeff City, so it turns to pitting politicans against each other so that there's something to write in the Political Eye column.
The St. Louis American/Chris King is in no better position to initiate discourse about the 5th senatorial district than the man in the moon. Likewise, Donald Suggs has been just as wrong in his endorsements of City issues as Francis Slay. Can anybody say "school board elections?"
No thank you St Louis American. You are about as significant as gum on the bottom of a shoe.
10/26/2006 7:02 PM
Oh my Goodness!!!. Thank you sooo much for expressing my sentiments. I thought it was only me and was wondering why in the world Black people in St. Louis allow a white male to try to define Black folks political agenda. How dare he take such shots at people that we elect into office. And to do it in such a cowardly way by never signing his name to it nor his picture. What is up with that? Roland B is right on with respect to the same tactics that the white overseer used to use to keep up division among slaves on a plantation. By tearing them down and causing division, he allows the white politicians. I think either last week or the week before, he had the nerve to tear down every black politician in the political eye while giving Kudos to all of the white politicians. It is time to take the overseer down.
Further, how could the American allow this guy to be the editor. Isn't that an insult that a African American newspaper can't find an African American that is good enough to be an editor. Isn't there an Association of Black Journalist. Are none of them qualified to do the job? It certainly is a slap in the face to its readers who rely on them for content about the African American community.
10/26/2006 7:34 PM
I can't believe that a writer for the St. Louis American, which is basically the right wing of local African-American media, dares to call Antonio French a Republican because he takes any and all ads. They should try running a *daily* publication without advertisements and then begin to complain.
10/26/2006 7:48 PM
Is The American 100% black owned or is Donald Suggs now just the face man for a white news company?
It seems that if people want to do something that lets them know that we don't like the track that they are going is to boycott the paper and or its major advertisers. Perhaps we should encourage advertising in other forms of media such as Pub Def, The Argus, and or the Sentinal. We have the power to do that if we pull together and stop just accepting whatever is thrown at us.
Antonio has been diligent about trying to maintain integrity and professional journalism. He trys to present both sides and trust the public to be intelligent enough to make a decision based what is presented, not just gossip and inuendo. Too often, we have allowed other people to tell us what to think about our community, leaders, children, schools, beliefs, etc. It is time to think for ourselves and define our selves for our selves. Kujichagulia
10/26/2006 7:49 PM
Antonio I expected a lot more from you than starting a "conversation" like this one. Why can't we get past the color of someone's skin for once. Chris King has given a lot to the cuase of colored folks in this town and this is the thanks that he gets. What is written in the Political Eye is also written by Virvus Jones too. And often what they are reporting are quotes from other politicians or black leaders that don't want the back lash that comes with naming names.
Jeff Smith simply was the best candidate for his office and he's succeeding another White man who was the best person available. Just look at the blacks who were willing to follow his lead; are you all saying that they were all wrong? Tom Villa will serve the city and the state well if he indeed decides to run. Who needs someone in Jeff city and all they do is gripe with one another and fight.
Lookat the development downtown, the same thing will happen once Whites start to move back to North St. Louis and run for office.
The American did the right thing turning editing duties over to Mr. King and the Argus would do well to follow suit.
Sincerely,
Someone from the CWE who cares!
By the way; Lewis Reed should think again about running for President of the Board. Jim Shrewsberry has really done alot for blacks and Reed will never get the support he's counting on.
10/26/2006 8:03 PM
You just might be surprised by how many are already supporting Lewis Reed in his bid to be the next President of the Board of Aldermen.
10/26/2006 10:00 PM
When Jones was writing for the Political Eye, he used to sign his name to it. Did he just stop or did the author change?
It also is not so much about getting past the color of someone's skin. It only makes sense that a newspaper for African Americans should be written by them. The same is true for a paper for women, Bosnians, Hispanics, etc. I don't agree with going with someone JUST because they are black. But I also don't believe letting outsiders establish another group agenda is a intelligent decision.
It also seems that ironic that most of the politicians that are attacked are also Muslim. Yaphett, TD, Rodney, and Jamillah.
What is up with that?
This weeks issue of the American states that it is silly for Barrak Obama to consider a run for the presidency while the Argus examines the option.
10/26/2006 10:19 PM
If Chris King wrote for a white paper the stuff he writes now about Black people, Dr. Suggs would be the first person to call him a racist. But both of them are hypocrits. Suggs gave George Bush $2000 and supported Kit Bond but you don't see that in the American. You don't see Chris King's picture in the paper either. Why? Don't want the Black people to know that he is white. Ten years from now he will be the typical converted liberal. He will probably be to the right of Limbaugh, oxy and all.
10/26/2006 10:30 PM
So tell the truth. Isn't the real job of the American is to keep all the spooks in line so SUGGS can be the HNIC. The reality is that they are no different than the people they criticize. They make sure nobody gets out of line and only follows the lead as setup by the good doctor. That is why Suggs had the Dental contract for City Hall and the food and the news and gifts concessions at the airport. Boy, talk about being on the public tit.
10/26/2006 10:34 PM
Anony, I'm not saying white journalists can't work for black newspapers. I'm saying it is unethical to hide the fact that the editor of a black newspaper which regularly attacks black figures (young and, as someone else pointed out, Muslim ones in particular) is not black himself.
But Chris King or his race isn't the issue. The St. Louis American is the child of one man, publisher Dr. Donald Suggs.
He's responsible for what that paper prints and what attacks are allowed to be carried on under the cover of pseudonyms.
He's responsible for putting partisanship ahead of the search for truth.
He's responsible for forgetting that when it comes to politicians and political parties, African-Americans as a group have no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, just permanent interests.
10/26/2006 11:24 PM
Mr. French:
I know some Republicans, and you, sir, are no Republican!
Seriously -- to accuse Antonio French of having a foot in the elephant's den is beyond absurd.
The American has been a bully pulpit, with emphasis on the bully, for some years now. And if it wants to start accusing people of bias, well, there's a scripture, isn't there, about the boulder in your own eye?
10/27/2006 9:57 AM
Well, I didn't know it but I'm not surprised to see that Suggs has given donations to Republicans. Since someone has taken the time to look at political campaign reports to find that out, please re-examine and let us know if you find that he has ever given money to Democrats, women candidates in particular.
I agree with one of the anons, Suggs, Chris King, or whoever, spends a considerable amount of time attacking black female politicians who evidently haven't asked his permission to run for office. Let me know which black elected female campaign reports he pops up on.
10/27/2006 11:56 AM
BUBBA SAYS: Way to go A French! You are just calling it like you see it, errr, well, like it actually is. PUB DEF has been outscooping just about every blog and media outlet in St. Louis with your intelligent, hard charging media coverage. Seems to me the American is content to become a soap opera rag as long as its advertising revenue is full. The American is Post Dispatching itself to death. Keep up that stellar GAME, PLAYER!!!!!
10/30/2006 8:29 AM
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