Bev Smith: Journalist, Truth-Finder and Truth-Teller

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

"Bev Smith: Journalist, Truth-Finder and Truth-Teller" 

 

For African-American people and people of Black African descent, life in America has not been smooth nor easy.  Trying to maintain sanity and a sense of success takes up most of our time.  Year after year, in an effort to keep up with the rhetoric, conspiracies, strategies, and current events, I’ve had to rely on social and political summaries from political activists and commentators. 

Looking back on the 1980s to now, I had a roster of regulars, my go-to commentators to help me stay in the know.  Besides the mainstay activists like Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton (both ran for the position of U.S. President) and the Honorable Louis Farrakhan, I listened to excellent journalists with their own television and radio shows.  In particular, outlets for journalists/activists such as Tony Brown’s Journal or Dick Gregory and his books to Bob Johnson’s original BET cast with Ed Joiner, Tavis Smiley, Bev Smith and Jacque Reid were my preferred resources for world news and Black diaspora perspectives. I felt extremely secure receiving information leading to my attained knowledge. 

Then it all changed.

When Bob Johnson sold BET, my heart sank and a big resource for nightly news focused on my community disappeared.  What was an original concept for delivering “our news,” was no longer in existence. 

I have no idea what happened to Tony, Ed or Jackie.  Dick is still engaging, but mostly through YouTube videos.  Tavis mellowed out and became a Public Broadcast news figure. And Jesse and Al are now on mainstream television and radio, but rarely do they discuss other issues besides politics. 

Naturally, I thank Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton for all they have done.  Their high level of sacrifice cannot be ignored or denied.  Their courage is God-ordained; if I am ever in trouble, do know I am going to call on Jesse and Al.

However, as a learned woman, I need more.  For years, I have traveled about and lived in many different states, ever searching for my kind of Black-owned talk radio stations and Black journalists with talk radio shows.  No, I wasn’t looking for a Herman Cain.  He’s not, nor ever will be, my kind of commentator. 

Although tired and frustrated, I never gave up.  One day, it happened.  I found her, again.  Bev Smith was on the radio.  I found her on WAOK 1380 in Atlanta, Georgia.  I’ve gathered that for decades, she has been on the radio out of Washington, D.C.  I can now listen to her night after night.  She never disappoints.

Bev Smith talks about it all.  Some nights she discusses education.  Other nights she discusses race relations.  Some nights it’s all about love and relationships.  Then other nights, yes, it’s politics. 

Settings her apart from other journalists, is her courage in finding the truth behind her topics.  Whether it’s the truth about Thanksgiving or the genetically-modified produce on our tables, she’s my go-to commentator.  She can be an out-spoken advocate for her beliefs and a watchdog over governmental actions.  She’s not afraid to be bold and in-your-face.  She calls a trump, a trump!  And I’m right there with her. 

Bev Smith, many people may not know about you or how long you have been a voice for your people.  However, for this 2017 Black History Month, I just wanted to salute you and thank you.

Bev Smith, you are a Journalist, a Truth-Finder and a Truth-Teller.  Know for a lifetime that I am listening.  

*Vanessa Brantley  Style395.blogspot.com  February 5, 2017   "Bev Smith: Journalist, Truth-Finder and Truth-Teller"   Volume 3, Blog 1a [vol. 3, 1-1c].