Hey, Osunsami’s Human Too
Can black journalists cover the Obama White House without bias? Many asked that question–perhaps, not out loud–after watching ABC reporter, Steve Osunsami’s reaction on election night, to Obama becoming the 44th POTUS.
Media watchdogs, like fellow classmate Rima Abdelkader, sniffed out Osunsami’s election night throat-spasm and Osunsami, likely reacting to criticism as well as praise, explained why he showed emotion on his ABC News blog:
For me, it wasn’t the political event that was moving, it was the human event: on Tuesday night, the whole world watched as Americans of all colors came together in such an historic way.
Was Obama’s victory–the country’s victory–an acceptable reason for journalists to break professional composure though? I tended to think it was not. I mean, it’s not like journalists covering election night were being thrown a curve ball.
Listen to Michel Martin’s NPR discussion with other prominent journalists about their emotions on election night. All, except Soledad O’Brien, reported that they struggled to “hold it in.” Point being: they at least thought it important not to show emotion on-air. And I wondered whether Osunsami had the same struggle or whether he regretted his show of emotion and if so, why? I didn’t expect Osunsami to publicly reveal himself again by answering those questions, however. (I was one of the folks who Facebook’d him after the near-cry… no response… read on for why I didn’t follow up)
On election night, I inwardly burned during every second of Osunsami’s near-cry. (you must understand, in general, I’m the passionate sort) I saw “the moment,” not as a beautiful display of the story’s human side; that role should’ve been played by the jubilant Morehouse students in the background. Rather, I interpreted the moment, then, as a journalist compromising his professional integrity–and as a television network lowering its standards for “the black guy.”
Osunsami, with ABC’s help, had opened the door for his credibility to be questioned as a journalist. The hidden “benefit” of being a black journalist though, is that your purported lack of bias will be attributed to your race as well. Lucky us.
Which brings me back to the ignorant question that kicked off this post: can black journalists cover the Obama White House without bias? By his own admission, journalist Jeff Winbush can’t–but later asks to be judged by his reporting first. I find that odd, as well as his justification of black groupie behavior because, erm, white journos are groupies, too.
I’m not going to answer the question that I posed. Ignorance deserves a challenge, not an answer–and I realized after some thought, that I too was guilty of needing the challenge.
For others, question your assumption that black people think however it is that you believe black people think. You’ll squeeze more truth from a situation if you think of the offending black journalist as a journalist, first.
For me, don’t justify ignorance by fearing its repercussions. Part of what infuriated me about Osunsami’s show of emotion was the belief that, “he’s ruining it for the rest of us”–us, being the significant minority of black journalists who struggle mightily to enter and remain in this profession. It would drive me insane if I hounded myself with the belief that others doubted the quality of my reporting because of my race. Really, that’s their problem. I shouldn’t make it mine.
That realization is why I didn’t pursue Osunsami beyond that Facebook ouverture. On election night, I too was guilty of looking at him as a black journalist, not as Steve Osunsami. But if I were viewing him primarily as a man, I’d have said, there’s nothing wrong with showing emotion at an extraordinary time. Journalists are human, too.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Indeed, journalists are human too. I recognize your frustration and you make a good point that the expression of emotion could make Black journalists an easy target, or as you said, “ruin it for the rest of us.”
But I have faith that if Black, Asian, Latino or even White journalists start appearing to toss soft balls at the president-elect-soon-to-be-president Obama, we’ll all be called on it. Remember, there’s still 46% who voted for McCain.
I think that in the huge, outpouring of expectations where Obama and his administration will be expected to accomplish Herculean feats, there will be much fodder for criticism and watchdogging. In this space, journalists may redeem themselves…
But really, remaining unflappable and emotionless in one of the most historic moments of this country would make me think that a journalist was an automaton instead of human. I might trust him or her less.
One of ours, Lonni Isabelle made a good point on CUNY TV, saying that rarely are White journalists suspected of bias when covering White politicians. see it here, about half-way into the program…http://cuny.tv/series/sources/index.lasso?-database=CUNYSCHE&-response=detail.lasso&-table=webprogdetail&-sortField=Date&-sortOrder=ascending&-sortField=StartTime&-sortOrder=ascending&-op=eq&ProgramsSchedule%3A%3ASeriesTitle=Independent%20Sources&-op=gte&Date=11%2F15%2F2008&-maxRecords=1&-search
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:40 pm
You’re like a black Bill Cosby.
Seriously, though, amazing.
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
LMAO. Dude, don’t leave me hangin’! I can’t tell whether that’s a diss or a compliment.
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
oh. and, as opposed to the white Bill Cosby?
December 5th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Yeah, it was a subtle and probably clumsy analogy/joke to make, but what i meant was:
Regardless of what you think of his conclusions, Bill Cosby makes these thoughtful critiques of both Black America and America as a whole and he seems to do so from a position both from within and outside the black community. He speaks both subjectively and objectively at the same time, not out of cynicism, but because he cares deeply about the issues.
I see that same thing in your writing, not only in this post but in others before it. I didn’t mean to suggest a parallel between your thought and his, which may or may not exist–I wouldn’t presume to be smart enough to make that analysis.
Saying “the black Bill Cosby” was meant to play off of the idea that Cosby somehow does not speak as an authentic black man but as something else (Uncle Tom? Rich guy? I’m not sure exactly how to characterize it).
The joke really had nothing to do with you as I am currently unaware of any attempts to impinge on your blackness.
I like your authorial voice because it is concerned, but concerned enough to avoid being reactionary; it’s a difficult balance to strike.
December 5th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Bill Cosby is a controversial figure within black America. I tend to see him as a grandfather figure making critiques that are common in black neighborhoods and churches.
Others see him as a wealthy outsider–or as you recognize, an inauthentic black man–who’s victimizing the victimized. My retort is for them to check who flock to his seminars in droves: working class and poor black people.
I think Cosby’s detractors forget that Cos wasn’t born rich and that he came from a struggling neighborhood and a single parent home. But he made it out and did well. I don’t think Cos forgot where he came from. And, I don’t know the man’s mind but I tend to think that his ‘crusade’ is the way that he remembers how he started, actually.
Re: my authorial voice, I’m glad that my writing shows concern. I am. As for my blackness being impinged… never, baby.