By Deidre Montague, Northend Agent’s
Once God confirmed to me that He wanted me to transition careers from social work to journalism, I made my vision boards more pointed in that direction.
Each year, I made sure while creating my vision boards consistently had one woman placed on there.
That woman was Joy Ann-Reid. For those who are not familiar with Reid, let me give you some fast facts about this amazing journalist.
According to Newsweek.com, Reid is a journalist, television/radio host, author, and political commentator/columnist. Before getting her own show on the MSNBC network, “TheReidOut” in 2020, she has previously hosted “AM Joy” at the same network.
She has been a strong force of nature in the political media space, carving out a lane of her own discussing the intersections of race, social justice, and policy.
As the host of “TheReidOut”, Reid made sure to bring her wealth of expertise and knowledge to her own primetime show at MSNBC, making her the first first Black woman to anchor a primetime show on the network.
What made Reid’s show special is her commitment to centering the issues that mattered to Black people, communities of color, and other marginalized groups and bringing them to the forefront.
She made it a point to make sure that her roundtable panels had diverse guests that discussed issues that were not often covered in mainstream media. Her behind the scenes staff was also diverse, not just by race, but by perspectives and lived experiences.
Most importantly, Reid used her voice to speak truth to power and hold those in power accountable.
As a young Black journalist, seeing her speak truth to power on “TheReidOut” helped me to see that I could be a journalist that shines light on important issues that impact my community while showing them in a positive light.
She showed me that it is critical to hold those in power accountable and to uplift voices that are often pushed in the margins.
This is what made the news of Reid’s show being cancelled last week by MSNBC particularly devastating for me and many others.
When she received blowback from some conservatives and critics who did not like what she covered on her show, Reid did not cower in defeat – but she stood firm in who she was as a Black woman journalist and continued to bring the issues that mattered to us to the forefront.
The irony of this news is that Reid recently won two NAACP Image Awards on Sat. Feb. 22., both the Outstanding News/Information Series or Special Award for “The Reidout” show, and the Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography Award as the author of the biography “Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America.”
We lost a powerful voice in the industry, who was unafraid to unapologetically talk about our issues. She centered our voices and was a safe space for many of us of color. She saw us and valued us.
In her final show on Mon., Feb. 24, Reid focused on the theme of “How to Resist A Crisis of Democracy, speaking to the audience about the importance of resisting anything and anyone who is working against “making this country free for everyone and to have a true multiracial democracy.”
Reid cited the examples of the resistance movements that have ensured us to have the many rights we may often take for granted, such as the Montgomery bus boycotts, the Labor rights movement, the Vietnam war, the Iraq war, and the Gaza war.
She said the following quote during the show, “That is history’s most important lesson, right? That the most important thing, the first rule is to fight back…Even if it’s scary or uncomfortable or inconvenient, just keep saying no or finding creative ways to say no in small ways and large…You don’t always win every battle, but the whole thing is about resisting.”
Losing a voice like Reid’s is devastating, because it appears to be a pattern. At the MSNBC network, Black female journalists have also had their shows canceled over the years, such as Karen Finney, Melissa Harris-Perry, and Tiffany Cross.
Three other journalists of color are also losing their primetime/weekend shows: Alex Wagner, Katie Phang, and José Díaz-Balart (although these journalists will remain with the network as correspondents).
Losing Black and other voices of color on primetime is not just disappointing or upsetting, it is censorship that we, as a community, should never stand for.
While we may no longer see Reid on primetime television on weekdays, we should carry the spirit of resistance with us as we navigate this difficult and unjust political and social climate.
How do we do this? By supporting the Black press and the work of truth-telling Black journalists and other journalists of color, both locally and nationally.
As readers, it is critical to read their stories, buy their books (from Black bookstores when possible), listen to their podcasts, share their work online, comment and follow them on social media, and donate to them whenever possible.
With the political and social climate working to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion, it is vital to have the Black press and other journalists of color speak unapologetically to our communities about the issues that matter most to us and our families.
