May 28, 2025 • 29 mins
Today's special gust is Dyanna Knight Lewis, Regional Vice President of Real Times Media, the parent company for the Chicago Defender and several other Black media publications.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Real Times Media was established in two thousand and six
as the preservers and purveyors of culture both past and present.
They are a parent company to five of the country's
most respected African American owned news organizations, The Atlanta Daily World,
Atlanta Tribune, The Magazine, The Chicago Defender, the Michigan Chronicle,
and The New Pittsburgh Courier. The regional vice president of
(00:22):
Real Times Media is Diana Knight Lewis.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
With nearly two decades as a media.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Professional and a veteran employee at The Chicago Defender, Diana
is now The Defender's longest serving woman publisher. Here to
talk with us about the state of black media, its
role in the current political climate, and what we can
do to support these critical institutions is the woman herself,
Diana Knight Lewis. This is the Black Information Network Daily
(00:47):
podcast and I am your host, Ramsy's job. All right,
Diana Knight Lewis, Welcome to the show. How you doing today?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
I'm doing Greg, Good morning, and thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Ram I've been looking forward to it definitely, so we
gave you a little bit of an introduction here. But
on this show, one of the things we like to
do is let our listeners know who's talking to them today.
So if you would give us a little bit of
you know, your background story, your origin story, and what
kind of led you to you know, your position at
(01:19):
Real Times Media.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Interesting, Well, I've come full circle.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
So my name is Diana Knight lewis Regional vice president
for Real Times Media, publisher of Chicago Defender, and my
story is, as I tend to say, from the pages
to the publisher, it's been.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
A full circle and full circle story, full circle.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Moment for me as I grew up with the Chicago
Defender in my household, my grandparents, my parents. That was
the main black newspaper or the only black newspaper, but
the main black publication in the house. And when I
was about between nine and ten, I was at Rainbow
(02:01):
Push or what was it called Rainbow Push or Push
Coalition at that time, and I was there too with
my mom to listen to gwenlan Brook's read poetry, recite poetry.
And I was on the floor and Chicago Defender photographer
captured my photo and it was in the paper and
(02:24):
it said that her eyes are all in awe as
she listens to gwenlen Brook's recite poetry and no name.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
My name wasn't in there. They didn't know my name,
they didn't have to know my name.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
But when that paper came out and I saw that
my picture was in there and my family, I thought
I was famous. So years fast forward, years later, a
position becomes available at the Chicago Defender. I hear about it.
This is now two thousand and seven, and I hear
about it. I applied for it in three to four
months of interviewing.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I ain't going through the processes.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
I was hired in two thousand and seven, So full
circle from the pages to the publisher.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
I love that. I love that.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
I have kind of a similar story out here. Where
I live is in Phoenix, Arizona, and we have a
paper called The Arizona Informant, and it covered an event
for you know, young people who are kind of participating
in an extra curricular sort of public speaking program. And yeah,
(03:28):
they had a picture of me on the front page.
And you know, now, the studio I'm in is littered
with you know, every time I was on the cover
of a magazine or on a billboard or something like that.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
But that was the first one. So I love that
origin story.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Now I love your story. So we have that common app.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
That in common.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah, sure, I'll say, Well, now you understand why I
was looking forward to talking to you. So So another
thing that I know is that the Chicago Defender is
a very very special newspaper and for people that are
based elsewhere in the country, for people that maybe have
not heard of it, talk a little bit about kind
(04:06):
of the importance in the history of the Chicago Defender.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Well, the Chicago Defender is absolutely near and dear to
my heart from just the fact that I'm you know,
born and raised Chicago in and I have such an
emotional connection to the Defender, such a passion for the
work that I do. But the Defender, you know, has
been part of a great one hundred and.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Twenty year legacy.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Now because we just had our celebrated our one hundred
and twentieth anniversary on May fifth, although we're celebrating all
year long, and the paper has been instrumental in, you know,
driving the great migration, confronting system systemic racism, and the
(04:52):
legacy reminds me every day that our platform is not
just about the headlines, but it's about the heritage, the
impact and the transformation that this publication has, and it
carries a heavyweight. I carry the weight of the sacred
trust and the visionaries that built this this publication. And
(05:16):
I use you know, the power of the press or
the Chicago Defender. You know, the power that the Chicago
Defender carries to champion justice, uplift black voices and reshaped
Americans narrative.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
You know.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
One of the things that I know to be true
is print media, legacy, print media, and now you know
digital print media is important in a very different way
than you know, the media that I'm accustomed to working in. Right,
(05:53):
I'm famously a broadcaster, and this is I do this
podcast as well. And one of the cool things about
broadcasting is you get a living sort of conversation, the
back and forth sort of thing. You get to learn
things more in real time, you get to discover new things.
(06:14):
That conversation can go in a number of directions. But
in radio specifically, it's not preserved in the way that
print media is preserved, and it is not shared in
the way that you know, print media can be shared,
you know, so it doesn't circulate in the way that
(06:36):
like print media and digital media can be shared and
so there's a very special place in the media landscape.
I think there will always be a very special place
for the written word because of how we consume it
and how we share it. When when words are dictated
to you, instead of allowing you to kind of get
(06:58):
off some weird conspiracy theories, you know, you kind of
consume it in a different way, and there's a credibility
typically assigned to this type of media. Now, one of
the things that I've noticed is, you know, recently, we
had a conversation with Joy Reid. We've had a number
of conversations with other media professionals, and of course we
(07:19):
ourselves on this show work in the media space.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
We've known that.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
A fair and balanced media landscape is in jeopardy under
the current administration. We've learned that that a free press
is in jeopardy. And you know, on this show, I've
said that, you know, I recognize and respect that I
(07:50):
tend to lean you know, left with my views and
with my conversations, and you know, I welcome, you know,
challengers and so forth, but I want that to be
on full display, for one, when it comes to this
current administration really attacking all three of those facets of
the media in particular, you know, a free a free press,
(08:13):
a fair press, and indeed press with with a bias
to it, you know, not an extreme bias, of course,
but you know, a bias to it that kind of
changes things. And and the fact is is that this
administration gets to decide what those things look like. So
basically there's investigations in everyone who's not Fox News right,
every major media outlet.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
How do you.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Define the role of black media given this current administration's
hostility toward you know, a.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Free press, and what role.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Or what path do you see us takings as black
media professionals and black journalists ensure to ensure that we
are able to communicate the goings on of this political
administration to our consumers, our readers, our listeners.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Well, we have the obligation to defend first of all,
defend the Chicago defender, defend the African American community.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
It's our.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
We are a niche market publication, and so what we
tend to do is tell our story. We are able
to shape the narrative of our story. We are able
to tell our story in totality and not just bits
and pieces.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
We are able.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
To share information and positive and a positive light that
other public you won't receive from other publications.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Sure, we're going to uplift.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
It is our responsibility to uplift, to spot light the good,
the positive, and be able and tell the whole story
to make our community aware and others that are following us,
and you know that are part of our audience, to
(10:17):
just be able to see what the African America, the
positive light that is involved in our community because there
is so much good about us, and all we hear
are the negative stories. And so if we don't have
the Chicago Defender and other black press do not tell
our stories, then who will?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, yeah, you know.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
One of the things that I heard recently is that
in terms of not just the press, but in terms
of all of the people who feel like this is
an oppressive administration. Again, I heard it put best that
today's the day we're going to be the most powerful.
In other words, if we do nothing, we lose that power.
(11:05):
That our capacity to fight back is as strong as
it's going to be as of today. The longer we wait,
the more power is sifted away from us, and the
less capable will be to you know, combat the oppressive
forces that are in control of the country. So you know,
(11:25):
I I absolutely understand and respect, you know, the position
of a publication like the Defender and and the obligation
there to make sure that you know, stories are told,
perspective is added, and you know that there's context provided,
historical and current, and you know, projecting into the future
(11:48):
as well, because for a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Of people, it's too easy to end up.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Giving into what amounts to propaganda, you know, especially when
it comes from the far right. What we talked about
before we started recording, it's very easy to get caught
up in there, especially if you come from a fear
based community where you think that there's an invasion and
you think people are going to you know, take your
rights and take your guns and all that sort of stuff.
Those narratives that have existed for a long time, there's
(12:21):
a lot of effectively, it's propaganda out there that speaks
to and confirms your biases. And that's not to say
that that isn't the case on the left as well,
but you know, in my estimation, when it's on the right,
it's far more dangerous, it's far more insidious, And so
I absolutely respect the role of the Chicago Defender and
(12:44):
other publications. Now, with these institutions being under attack, you know,
outside of like you know, subscribing, you know to the publication.
What are some ways that the community that our listeners
can support an institution like on the ground in their
own city, or you know, an institution like the Chicago Defender,
(13:06):
which conceivably could be you know, found in the crosshairs
of this administration.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Well, we are at We are in a moment where
visibility is power and represent and representation is critical.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
And so follow us, follow the Chicago Defender.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Tell us stories, let us know what's going on, so
that we can do our due diligence, investigate and spotlight
those stories at a time when the narratives around black
life can still be distorted or diminished. Spotlighting black excellence
becomes an act of resistance and renew It affirms our values,
(13:47):
our contributions, and our limitless potential. So celebrating excellence, talking
about excellence, featuring excellence is not vanity, it's victory. And
we need to tell our story. We need to tell
it so that our young people, our elders, and the
rest of the world know that we are here, we
(14:09):
are thriving, and we are leaving.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
We are not what others make us out to be.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Hey, what's up.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
This is ramses Jah and I am q Ward and
we're inviting you to subscribe to Civic Cipher, our weekly
social justice podcast right here in the app.
Speaker 6 (14:26):
We pride ourselves on creating a show that fusters allyship,
empathy and understanding, all the while conducting journalistically credible research,
featuring influential, noteworthy guests, and empowering historically marginalized communities.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
The African proverb breeds, if you want to go far,
go together. So we are asking you to search for
and subscribe to Civic Cipher.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
That Civic cip h e er right here in the app.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
We are here today with the regional vice president of
Real Times Media and the publisher of The Chicago Defender,
Diana Knight Lewis. All right, so, speaking of Chicago, you know,
people often use Chicago to suggest that, you know, problems
(15:11):
within the black community are cultural rather than structural. So
this is something that comes up time and again. I'm
sure you've heard of it. It's just a popular straw
man when it comes to you know, people pushing back
against those that would affirm a black reality in this country,
(15:36):
black leadership and the importance of it, et cetera. You know, people,
you know roll out Chicago as as kind of the
example to suggest that again the issues are cultural and
not structural. So, you know, as a Chicago and as
a person who is responsible tasked with documenting the stories
in Chicago, give us your take on this narrative. What
(16:00):
is it that people should know about Chicago and what
is it that people should know about this particular defense
that finds itself uh in conversations from time to time
in mass media.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Well, Chicago is a huge city that has a plethora
of black people and black excellence. And it's not necessarily
the city of anymore of a city of crime.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Of of.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
You know, theft of murder, of riots, of of you
know that that it's made out to be. It's no
more than any others. Now it's blown up in the
media to look that way and be presented that way.
But we have a lot of good here in Chicago,
a lot of good to offer in Chicago.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
I'll go as far as our.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Social climate, as far as uh, the leaders of Chicago.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
We have a lot of great leaders.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
In our administration here in Chicago that are doing some
amazing things.
Speaker 6 (17:15):
And.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
We we just shouldn't be looked at and and and
judge based on the narrative of mainstream media.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, well, then let's let's shift gears here. In your estimation,
what would you say the biggest threat to African Americans is,
you know, if you could choose one cause for us
all to collectively champion, what would that be.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
One cause for us to collectively champion.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Or the biggest threat or you know something where if
you could way of magic wand we're all on the
same page and pushing for a certain change, what do
you think would impact us the most or what do
you think is the biggest threat that we could offset
by being collectively aligned in our pursuit.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
It's just that to be collectively aligned and not one
against the other and not allowing others to pit us
against each other.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
One of the things that I learned a long time
ago is that black unity was something that our community
was really striving for. I thought that, and this was
I might have been I couldn't have been ten years old,
you know, so maybe younger than ten, but I would
(18:48):
see it in popular media that you know, there were
these leaders and even on like sitcoms and TV shows
or whatever.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
There were these you know, sporadic calls for black unity.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
You know, I grew up in the other medallions, the
African you know, African colors, baggy clothes, you know, early nineties.
This was that moment in my life. And you know,
those calls for black unity and the calls out for
those who were not aligned, they kind of remain very
pronounced in my mind. And then you know, you grow
(19:22):
up and you you know, walk the path that you walk,
and you end up having conversations like these and you
learn a bit. And one of the things that I
realized is that going back historically, we've always been for
the most part, as aligned as we were in the
last election, and there have always been a certain number
(19:45):
of people and it's been pretty consistent. Typically they're black
males who have been dissenters. These are the black males
that you know, who's to say what they're thinking. But
I was having a conversation with doctor Christopher Town of
the Black Voter Project, and he was telling me that
there's always going to be a you know, just shy
(20:08):
of you know, maybe twenty percent black men that are
going to vote the other way, right, that's just a
common thing in this country. And for the most part,
everybody else votes, you know, the way that you would expect,
and they have traditionally with a smaller group of dissenters
(20:30):
when it comes to black women, but for the most
part it's been consistent. Again, so and having this conversation
trying to identify the why why do these people dissent
because that little percentage is a lot, right, It sounds
like a small percentage, but it is a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
You know.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Some of the theories that he and I discussed had to
do more with this idea of there being you know,
proximity to whiteness in their minds, this idea of them
being able to beat the odds on their own based
on hard work and nothing about their story being circumstantial
(21:11):
or luck or you know, anything like that.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
The right people in the right place at the right time.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Another one being that these people have no idea what
the data suggests, and so data of course suggests that
there are systemic issues because they are very much the
exception and the rule looks like this, and then for
them to say, well, look, all of you guys, just
do what I did, and all of you will be fine.
(21:37):
Is that's a naive and short sighted take on the
reality of the situation. It is not possible for everybody,
and this is one of the things that I've come
to share on my show. I'm from Compton, California famously,
and one of the things that I know for certain
is if I would have stayed in California and grew
up there and not moved out. You remember, this was
the eighties when I was born, So if I had
(21:58):
not moved out, I would have stayed there and grew
up and been a gangbanger same as everyone else. Right
Because I moved out because I had, you know, different
circumstances coming together at different times in my life. And
I could delineate all of these times if I wanted to,
but that would be a longer story here. But I
know that I was very fortunate and I had just
the right set of things happen in the right order
for me to you know, be able to beat the
(22:21):
odds in a manner of speaking. But you know, there's
friends that I played with that were little little kids
when they were killed in Compton, California, died in the street,
in the sidewalk, and that was reality. And I remember thinking, like,
I hope that I can make it to twenty, because
in my mind, twenty was the magic age. It wasn't eighteen,
(22:43):
it wasn't twenty one, twenty was. And the reason for
that is because I would always hear, oh, such and
such died, or such and such went to jail, or
such and such, you know, whatever, it was only thirteen,
he was only sixteen, he was only nineteen, he was
only seventeen. So I thought the teens were the dangerous
part of your life. Remember hoping to get to twenty, right,
And so so I can appreciate that that Black unity
(23:05):
take because that last little percent of people who maybe
just don't get it once they get on board.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
If they do.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Get on board, it seems like there's always going to
be that. But if they were to get on board,
then you know, we wouldn't have elections that were always
so close to the margins, we wouldn't have any number
of things that really affects our community. Usually those people
provide cover for the opposing narrative and for the people
(23:32):
who are racist but don't want to appear racist. They
can say, look this person, this Candice Owen's person, agrees
with me, and she's black, and so therefore I can't
be racist. You know, black people feel the same way,
or some black people feel the same way. So I
totally appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Now.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
I know I've been switching gears quite a bit here,
but I do want to give you some time to
talk about the Men of Excellence Awards. So talk to
our listeners about that, and you know and sort of
what that means.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Well, the Man of Excellence Awards.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
We're in our eighteenth year of Men and Women of Excellence,
and we had women during Women's History Month and March,
and men is coming up June thirteenth. It's always somewhere
between somewhere around the Father's to Stay weekend and June
teenth holiday that it is. And the Man of Excellence
(24:29):
Awards were born out of a desire to honor the
often unsung heroes among us.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
So they're Black men who are not.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
Only leaders in their profession, but also in their homes,
their communities, and in the hearts of those that they serve.
We were inspired by the need to change the narrative,
just to shift the spotlight a little bit onto those
who embody resilience and real impact in their communities, in
(24:59):
their home owns, in their professions, and it's become one
of our signature events.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
It reflects the mission of.
Speaker 4 (25:11):
Celebration of legacy and invest in futures and uplifts role
models who lead and lead with purpose and passion.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
And it is just.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
It is just one of the ways that we as
the Chicago Defender, that we uplift and uphold the African
American community and especially the African American men. Yes so,
but you know, having this uh celebration year after year
(25:43):
and again this is the eighteenth year coming up. It's
it's what sets these the men that we honor. It's
what sets them apart from not just what they've accomplished,
but how they show up. How they show up, you know,
with vision and humility, and how they have a commitment
(26:07):
to lift others up.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
And so.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
It doesn't just represent excellence, it redefines excellence.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
I love that, and I know that people can get
a full you know, recap rundown all that at the
website Chicago Defender dot com.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Right, absolutely, Chicago Defender dot com and any of our
social media platforms as well.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Okay, well, while we're here and before we let you go,
do us a favor. Hit those platforms so people know
how to tap in with the Chicago Defender and any
personal social media or any personal things that you want
to give so people can keep up with you, if
that's something that you.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Do as well.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Well, First of all, it's Chicago Defender dot com, which
is our website, and then we're on Facebook, Instagram to
linked in and that's under Chicago Defender and or Shy Defender.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Okay, all right, well, you know, I uh, I want
to just take this last moment to thank you for
you know, taking the time to come and talk with us,
and and it thank you for the work that you do,
you know obviously working in broadcasting, working in and podcasting
as well, we rely on the journalistic coverage provided by
(27:34):
the Chicago Defender. I can't I couldn't tell you how
many times we've used the Chicago Defender to cite you know,
works and tell stories and then you know, reflect on
them and so forth.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
And so.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Your specific brand of journalism there in Chicago holds up
you know, the institutions of you know news, you know
broadcasts on radi, on television, a lot of people online
et cetera. And you know you being the foundation of
that is. Like I said, it is just an honor
to be able to talk to you again today. So again,
thank you for the work you're doing. Thank you for
(28:13):
you know, your commitment to our community. And my hope is.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
That we will collectively survive. We will thrive.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
How about that. Let's manifest it. We will thrive despite
any hostile administration. We will thrive despite any you know,
pushback or false narratives that are chronicled about our people,
about our publications or about you know, the work that
we're trying to do here.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
So absolutely, and our journey, our journey to empowerment continues.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
We will. Yes, we will survive. Yes, we will thrive.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
That's what we've done, that's what we will continue to do.
And the pleasure has been mine. So thank you very
much for your time and for this conversation today once again.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Today's guest is the regional vice president of Real Times
Media and the publisher of The Chicago Defender, Diana Knight Lewis.
This has been a production of the Black Information Network.
Today's show is produced by Chris Thompson. Have some thoughts
you'd like to share, use the red microphone talkback feature
on the iHeartRadio app. While you're there, be sure to
hit subscribe and download all of our episodes I Am
(29:23):
Your Host, Ramsey's Job on all social media, and join
us tomorrow as we share our news with our voice
from our perspective right here on the Black Information Network
Daily Podcast
Real Times Media was established in two thousand and six
as the preservers and purveyors of culture both past and present.
They are a parent company to five of the country's
most respected African American owned news organizations, The Atlanta Daily World,
Atlanta Tribune, The Magazine, The Chicago Defender, the Michigan Chronicle,
and The New Pittsburgh Courier. The regional vice president of
(00:22):
Real Times Media is Diana Knight Lewis.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
With nearly two decades as a media.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Professional and a veteran employee at The Chicago Defender, Diana
is now The Defender's longest serving woman publisher. Here to
talk with us about the state of black media, its
role in the current political climate, and what we can
do to support these critical institutions is the woman herself,
Diana Knight Lewis. This is the Black Information Network Daily
(00:47):
podcast and I am your host, Ramsy's job. All right,
Diana Knight Lewis, Welcome to the show. How you doing today?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
I'm doing Greg, Good morning, and thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Ram I've been looking forward to it definitely, so we
gave you a little bit of an introduction here. But
on this show, one of the things we like to
do is let our listeners know who's talking to them today.
So if you would give us a little bit of
you know, your background story, your origin story, and what
kind of led you to you know, your position at
(01:19):
Real Times Media.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Interesting, Well, I've come full circle.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
So my name is Diana Knight lewis Regional vice president
for Real Times Media, publisher of Chicago Defender, and my
story is, as I tend to say, from the pages
to the publisher, it's been.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
A full circle and full circle story, full circle.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Moment for me as I grew up with the Chicago
Defender in my household, my grandparents, my parents. That was
the main black newspaper or the only black newspaper, but
the main black publication in the house. And when I
was about between nine and ten, I was at Rainbow
(02:01):
Push or what was it called Rainbow Push or Push
Coalition at that time, and I was there too with
my mom to listen to gwenlan Brook's read poetry, recite poetry.
And I was on the floor and Chicago Defender photographer
captured my photo and it was in the paper and
(02:24):
it said that her eyes are all in awe as
she listens to gwenlen Brook's recite poetry and no name.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
My name wasn't in there. They didn't know my name,
they didn't have to know my name.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
But when that paper came out and I saw that
my picture was in there and my family, I thought
I was famous. So years fast forward, years later, a
position becomes available at the Chicago Defender. I hear about it.
This is now two thousand and seven, and I hear
about it. I applied for it in three to four
months of interviewing.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I ain't going through the processes.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
I was hired in two thousand and seven, So full
circle from the pages to the publisher.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
I love that. I love that.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
I have kind of a similar story out here. Where
I live is in Phoenix, Arizona, and we have a
paper called The Arizona Informant, and it covered an event
for you know, young people who are kind of participating
in an extra curricular sort of public speaking program. And yeah,
(03:28):
they had a picture of me on the front page.
And you know, now, the studio I'm in is littered
with you know, every time I was on the cover
of a magazine or on a billboard or something like that.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
But that was the first one. So I love that
origin story.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Now I love your story. So we have that common app.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
That in common.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah, sure, I'll say, Well, now you understand why I
was looking forward to talking to you. So So another
thing that I know is that the Chicago Defender is
a very very special newspaper and for people that are
based elsewhere in the country, for people that maybe have
not heard of it, talk a little bit about kind
(04:06):
of the importance in the history of the Chicago Defender.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Well, the Chicago Defender is absolutely near and dear to
my heart from just the fact that I'm you know,
born and raised Chicago in and I have such an
emotional connection to the Defender, such a passion for the
work that I do. But the Defender, you know, has
been part of a great one hundred and.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Twenty year legacy.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Now because we just had our celebrated our one hundred
and twentieth anniversary on May fifth, although we're celebrating all
year long, and the paper has been instrumental in, you know,
driving the great migration, confronting system systemic racism, and the
(04:52):
legacy reminds me every day that our platform is not
just about the headlines, but it's about the heritage, the
impact and the transformation that this publication has, and it
carries a heavyweight. I carry the weight of the sacred
trust and the visionaries that built this this publication. And
(05:16):
I use you know, the power of the press or
the Chicago Defender. You know, the power that the Chicago
Defender carries to champion justice, uplift black voices and reshaped
Americans narrative.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
You know.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
One of the things that I know to be true
is print media, legacy, print media, and now you know
digital print media is important in a very different way
than you know, the media that I'm accustomed to working in. Right,
(05:53):
I'm famously a broadcaster, and this is I do this
podcast as well. And one of the cool things about
broadcasting is you get a living sort of conversation, the
back and forth sort of thing. You get to learn
things more in real time, you get to discover new things.
(06:14):
That conversation can go in a number of directions. But
in radio specifically, it's not preserved in the way that
print media is preserved, and it is not shared in
the way that you know, print media can be shared,
you know, so it doesn't circulate in the way that
(06:36):
like print media and digital media can be shared and
so there's a very special place in the media landscape.
I think there will always be a very special place
for the written word because of how we consume it
and how we share it. When when words are dictated
to you, instead of allowing you to kind of get
(06:58):
off some weird conspiracy theories, you know, you kind of
consume it in a different way, and there's a credibility
typically assigned to this type of media. Now, one of
the things that I've noticed is, you know, recently, we
had a conversation with Joy Reid. We've had a number
of conversations with other media professionals, and of course we
(07:19):
ourselves on this show work in the media space.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
We've known that.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
A fair and balanced media landscape is in jeopardy under
the current administration. We've learned that that a free press
is in jeopardy. And you know, on this show, I've
said that, you know, I recognize and respect that I
(07:50):
tend to lean you know, left with my views and
with my conversations, and you know, I welcome, you know,
challengers and so forth, but I want that to be
on full display, for one, when it comes to this
current administration really attacking all three of those facets of
the media in particular, you know, a free a free press,
(08:13):
a fair press, and indeed press with with a bias
to it, you know, not an extreme bias, of course,
but you know, a bias to it that kind of
changes things. And and the fact is is that this
administration gets to decide what those things look like. So
basically there's investigations in everyone who's not Fox News right,
every major media outlet.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
How do you.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Define the role of black media given this current administration's
hostility toward you know, a.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Free press, and what role.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Or what path do you see us takings as black
media professionals and black journalists ensure to ensure that we
are able to communicate the goings on of this political
administration to our consumers, our readers, our listeners.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Well, we have the obligation to defend first of all,
defend the Chicago defender, defend the African American community.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
It's our.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
We are a niche market publication, and so what we
tend to do is tell our story. We are able
to shape the narrative of our story. We are able
to tell our story in totality and not just bits
and pieces.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
We are able.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
To share information and positive and a positive light that
other public you won't receive from other publications.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Sure, we're going to uplift.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
It is our responsibility to uplift, to spot light the good,
the positive, and be able and tell the whole story
to make our community aware and others that are following us,
and you know that are part of our audience, to
(10:17):
just be able to see what the African America, the
positive light that is involved in our community because there
is so much good about us, and all we hear
are the negative stories. And so if we don't have
the Chicago Defender and other black press do not tell
our stories, then who will?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, yeah, you know.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
One of the things that I heard recently is that
in terms of not just the press, but in terms
of all of the people who feel like this is
an oppressive administration. Again, I heard it put best that
today's the day we're going to be the most powerful.
In other words, if we do nothing, we lose that power.
(11:05):
That our capacity to fight back is as strong as
it's going to be as of today. The longer we wait,
the more power is sifted away from us, and the
less capable will be to you know, combat the oppressive
forces that are in control of the country. So you know,
(11:25):
I I absolutely understand and respect, you know, the position
of a publication like the Defender and and the obligation
there to make sure that you know, stories are told,
perspective is added, and you know that there's context provided,
historical and current, and you know, projecting into the future
(11:48):
as well, because for a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Of people, it's too easy to end up.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Giving into what amounts to propaganda, you know, especially when
it comes from the far right. What we talked about
before we started recording, it's very easy to get caught
up in there, especially if you come from a fear
based community where you think that there's an invasion and
you think people are going to you know, take your
rights and take your guns and all that sort of stuff.
Those narratives that have existed for a long time, there's
(12:21):
a lot of effectively, it's propaganda out there that speaks
to and confirms your biases. And that's not to say
that that isn't the case on the left as well,
but you know, in my estimation, when it's on the right,
it's far more dangerous, it's far more insidious, And so
I absolutely respect the role of the Chicago Defender and
(12:44):
other publications. Now, with these institutions being under attack, you know,
outside of like you know, subscribing, you know to the publication.
What are some ways that the community that our listeners
can support an institution like on the ground in their
own city, or you know, an institution like the Chicago Defender,
(13:06):
which conceivably could be you know, found in the crosshairs
of this administration.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Well, we are at We are in a moment where
visibility is power and represent and representation is critical.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
And so follow us, follow the Chicago Defender.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Tell us stories, let us know what's going on, so
that we can do our due diligence, investigate and spotlight
those stories at a time when the narratives around black
life can still be distorted or diminished. Spotlighting black excellence
becomes an act of resistance and renew It affirms our values,
(13:47):
our contributions, and our limitless potential. So celebrating excellence, talking
about excellence, featuring excellence is not vanity, it's victory. And
we need to tell our story. We need to tell
it so that our young people, our elders, and the
rest of the world know that we are here, we
(14:09):
are thriving, and we are leaving.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
We are not what others make us out to be.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Hey, what's up.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
This is ramses Jah and I am q Ward and
we're inviting you to subscribe to Civic Cipher, our weekly
social justice podcast right here in the app.
Speaker 6 (14:26):
We pride ourselves on creating a show that fusters allyship,
empathy and understanding, all the while conducting journalistically credible research,
featuring influential, noteworthy guests, and empowering historically marginalized communities.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
The African proverb breeds, if you want to go far,
go together. So we are asking you to search for
and subscribe to Civic Cipher.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
That Civic cip h e er right here in the app.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
We are here today with the regional vice president of
Real Times Media and the publisher of The Chicago Defender,
Diana Knight Lewis. All right, so, speaking of Chicago, you know,
people often use Chicago to suggest that, you know, problems
(15:11):
within the black community are cultural rather than structural. So
this is something that comes up time and again. I'm
sure you've heard of it. It's just a popular straw
man when it comes to you know, people pushing back
against those that would affirm a black reality in this country,
(15:36):
black leadership and the importance of it, et cetera. You know, people,
you know roll out Chicago as as kind of the
example to suggest that again the issues are cultural and
not structural. So, you know, as a Chicago and as
a person who is responsible tasked with documenting the stories
in Chicago, give us your take on this narrative. What
(16:00):
is it that people should know about Chicago and what
is it that people should know about this particular defense
that finds itself uh in conversations from time to time
in mass media.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Well, Chicago is a huge city that has a plethora
of black people and black excellence. And it's not necessarily
the city of anymore of a city of crime.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Of of.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
You know, theft of murder, of riots, of of you
know that that it's made out to be. It's no
more than any others. Now it's blown up in the
media to look that way and be presented that way.
But we have a lot of good here in Chicago,
a lot of good to offer in Chicago.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
I'll go as far as our.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Social climate, as far as uh, the leaders of Chicago.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
We have a lot of great leaders.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
In our administration here in Chicago that are doing some
amazing things.
Speaker 6 (17:15):
And.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
We we just shouldn't be looked at and and and
judge based on the narrative of mainstream media.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, well, then let's let's shift gears here. In your estimation,
what would you say the biggest threat to African Americans is,
you know, if you could choose one cause for us
all to collectively champion, what would that be.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
One cause for us to collectively champion.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Or the biggest threat or you know something where if
you could way of magic wand we're all on the
same page and pushing for a certain change, what do
you think would impact us the most or what do
you think is the biggest threat that we could offset
by being collectively aligned in our pursuit.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
It's just that to be collectively aligned and not one
against the other and not allowing others to pit us
against each other.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
One of the things that I learned a long time
ago is that black unity was something that our community
was really striving for. I thought that, and this was
I might have been I couldn't have been ten years old,
you know, so maybe younger than ten, but I would
(18:48):
see it in popular media that you know, there were
these leaders and even on like sitcoms and TV shows
or whatever.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
There were these you know, sporadic calls for black unity.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
You know, I grew up in the other medallions, the
African you know, African colors, baggy clothes, you know, early nineties.
This was that moment in my life. And you know,
those calls for black unity and the calls out for
those who were not aligned, they kind of remain very
pronounced in my mind. And then you know, you grow
(19:22):
up and you you know, walk the path that you walk,
and you end up having conversations like these and you
learn a bit. And one of the things that I
realized is that going back historically, we've always been for
the most part, as aligned as we were in the
last election, and there have always been a certain number
(19:45):
of people and it's been pretty consistent. Typically they're black
males who have been dissenters. These are the black males
that you know, who's to say what they're thinking. But
I was having a conversation with doctor Christopher Town of
the Black Voter Project, and he was telling me that
there's always going to be a you know, just shy
(20:08):
of you know, maybe twenty percent black men that are
going to vote the other way, right, that's just a
common thing in this country. And for the most part,
everybody else votes, you know, the way that you would expect,
and they have traditionally with a smaller group of dissenters
(20:30):
when it comes to black women, but for the most
part it's been consistent. Again, so and having this conversation
trying to identify the why why do these people dissent
because that little percentage is a lot, right, It sounds
like a small percentage, but it is a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
You know.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Some of the theories that he and I discussed had to
do more with this idea of there being you know,
proximity to whiteness in their minds, this idea of them
being able to beat the odds on their own based
on hard work and nothing about their story being circumstantial
(21:11):
or luck or you know, anything like that.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
The right people in the right place at the right time.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Another one being that these people have no idea what
the data suggests, and so data of course suggests that
there are systemic issues because they are very much the
exception and the rule looks like this, and then for
them to say, well, look, all of you guys, just
do what I did, and all of you will be fine.
(21:37):
Is that's a naive and short sighted take on the
reality of the situation. It is not possible for everybody,
and this is one of the things that I've come
to share on my show. I'm from Compton, California famously,
and one of the things that I know for certain
is if I would have stayed in California and grew
up there and not moved out. You remember, this was
the eighties when I was born, So if I had
(21:58):
not moved out, I would have stayed there and grew
up and been a gangbanger same as everyone else. Right
Because I moved out because I had, you know, different
circumstances coming together at different times in my life. And
I could delineate all of these times if I wanted to,
but that would be a longer story here. But I
know that I was very fortunate and I had just
the right set of things happen in the right order
for me to you know, be able to beat the
(22:21):
odds in a manner of speaking. But you know, there's
friends that I played with that were little little kids
when they were killed in Compton, California, died in the street,
in the sidewalk, and that was reality. And I remember thinking, like,
I hope that I can make it to twenty, because
in my mind, twenty was the magic age. It wasn't eighteen,
(22:43):
it wasn't twenty one, twenty was. And the reason for
that is because I would always hear, oh, such and
such died, or such and such went to jail, or
such and such, you know, whatever, it was only thirteen,
he was only sixteen, he was only nineteen, he was
only seventeen. So I thought the teens were the dangerous
part of your life. Remember hoping to get to twenty, right,
And so so I can appreciate that that Black unity
(23:05):
take because that last little percent of people who maybe
just don't get it once they get on board.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
If they do.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Get on board, it seems like there's always going to
be that. But if they were to get on board,
then you know, we wouldn't have elections that were always
so close to the margins, we wouldn't have any number
of things that really affects our community. Usually those people
provide cover for the opposing narrative and for the people
(23:32):
who are racist but don't want to appear racist. They
can say, look this person, this Candice Owen's person, agrees
with me, and she's black, and so therefore I can't
be racist. You know, black people feel the same way,
or some black people feel the same way. So I
totally appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Now.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
I know I've been switching gears quite a bit here,
but I do want to give you some time to
talk about the Men of Excellence Awards. So talk to
our listeners about that, and you know and sort of
what that means.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Well, the Man of Excellence Awards.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
We're in our eighteenth year of Men and Women of Excellence,
and we had women during Women's History Month and March,
and men is coming up June thirteenth. It's always somewhere
between somewhere around the Father's to Stay weekend and June
teenth holiday that it is. And the Man of Excellence
(24:29):
Awards were born out of a desire to honor the
often unsung heroes among us.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
So they're Black men who are not.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
Only leaders in their profession, but also in their homes,
their communities, and in the hearts of those that they serve.
We were inspired by the need to change the narrative,
just to shift the spotlight a little bit onto those
who embody resilience and real impact in their communities, in
(24:59):
their home owns, in their professions, and it's become one
of our signature events.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
It reflects the mission of.
Speaker 4 (25:11):
Celebration of legacy and invest in futures and uplifts role
models who lead and lead with purpose and passion.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
And it is just.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
It is just one of the ways that we as
the Chicago Defender, that we uplift and uphold the African
American community and especially the African American men. Yes so,
but you know, having this uh celebration year after year
(25:43):
and again this is the eighteenth year coming up. It's
it's what sets these the men that we honor. It's
what sets them apart from not just what they've accomplished,
but how they show up. How they show up, you know,
with vision and humility, and how they have a commitment
(26:07):
to lift others up.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
And so.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
It doesn't just represent excellence, it redefines excellence.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
I love that, and I know that people can get
a full you know, recap rundown all that at the
website Chicago Defender dot com.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Right, absolutely, Chicago Defender dot com and any of our
social media platforms as well.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Okay, well, while we're here and before we let you go,
do us a favor. Hit those platforms so people know
how to tap in with the Chicago Defender and any
personal social media or any personal things that you want
to give so people can keep up with you, if
that's something that you.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Do as well.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Well, First of all, it's Chicago Defender dot com, which
is our website, and then we're on Facebook, Instagram to
linked in and that's under Chicago Defender and or Shy Defender.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Okay, all right, well, you know, I uh, I want
to just take this last moment to thank you for
you know, taking the time to come and talk with us,
and and it thank you for the work that you do,
you know obviously working in broadcasting, working in and podcasting
as well, we rely on the journalistic coverage provided by
(27:34):
the Chicago Defender. I can't I couldn't tell you how
many times we've used the Chicago Defender to cite you know,
works and tell stories and then you know, reflect on
them and so forth.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
And so.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Your specific brand of journalism there in Chicago holds up
you know, the institutions of you know news, you know
broadcasts on radi, on television, a lot of people online
et cetera. And you know you being the foundation of
that is. Like I said, it is just an honor
to be able to talk to you again today. So again,
thank you for the work you're doing. Thank you for
(28:13):
you know, your commitment to our community. And my hope is.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
That we will collectively survive. We will thrive.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
How about that. Let's manifest it. We will thrive despite
any hostile administration. We will thrive despite any you know,
pushback or false narratives that are chronicled about our people,
about our publications or about you know, the work that
we're trying to do here.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
So absolutely, and our journey, our journey to empowerment continues.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
We will. Yes, we will survive. Yes, we will thrive.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
That's what we've done, that's what we will continue to do.
And the pleasure has been mine. So thank you very
much for your time and for this conversation today once again.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Today's guest is the regional vice president of Real Times
Media and the publisher of The Chicago Defender, Diana Knight Lewis.
This has been a production of the Black Information Network.
Today's show is produced by Chris Thompson. Have some thoughts
you'd like to share, use the red microphone talkback feature
on the iHeartRadio app. While you're there, be sure to
hit subscribe and download all of our episodes I Am
(29:23):
Your Host, Ramsey's Job on all social media, and join
us tomorrow as we share our news with our voice
from our perspective right here on the Black Information Network
Daily Podcast
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.