AngryGayBlackCanadianman

Listen to Arsalan Iftikhar on Michel Martin’s NPR radio program “Tell Me More” every Friday during the “barbershop” segment. Arsalan is also a political commentator and he’s often on CNN, FOX News, and various other networks. The barbershop segment is really great because it is a segment for men  to talk about politics and pop culture.

Isn’t Arsalan gorgeous? I love Arsalan’s voice he is so sexy! Arsalan is the legal director for CAIR, he is also a contributing editor to Islamica Magazine. Arsalan is a Pakistani American and he is also a lawyer. Arsalan is a breath of fresh air he’s so witty, cute, intelligent, and he’s a big supporter of Senator Barack Obama!! Too bad Arsalan is straight though lol!

Last year I started listening to BBC Radio London 94.9 FM because I simply was thirsty. I started listening to a black British woman of African heritage Jumoke Fashola and she is amazing. Jumoke’s radio program is on daily on BBC Radio London in the morning. I was thirsty to learn about the African Diaspora.

The  contributions of black Canadians are  only briefly mentioned during black history month. The only other times black Canadians are discussed in the Canadian media is when something negative occurs. I know there is more to the black experience then negativity and Jumoke Fashola’s show demonstrates the richness of the black race.

Canadian radio and television is basically a white out. In Canada the only news program that targets the eighteen to thirty four demographic is “The Hour” hosted by Greek Canadian George Stroumboulopoulos. Although Stroumboulopoulos is thirty five years old, is that still young? Stroumboulopoulos is considered “ethnic” by Canadian standards because he’s not Anglo Saxon but he’s still a white heterosexual male. Stroumboulopoulos he is still the mythical norm. CBC television, other Canadian networks such as Global, CTV, City TV, and  Much Music are similar they are all geared towards white heterosexual audiences.

Instead of just complaining I started researching because I don’t got time to be ignored. The Canadian media isn’t going to change and since the internet is a revolutionary tool I can find radio programs that focus on issues I care about. I love listening to black people discuss the richness of black culture and the issues important to the black race. Thank goodness for the internet! I started listening to the United States National Public Radio also known as NPR. NPR has an excellent program by African American Michel Martin called”Tell Me More”. Michel’s show focuses on the black race about our achievements and black issues.

Jumoke Fashola’s show is similar to Michel Martin’s radio show except she is based in London England. Jumoke talks about the topics that relate to the black race her program is so exciting, interesting, and fascinating. I love listening to black British people talk about the issues affecting their lives. I actually have more in common with the black British them then African Americans. Most of the black British people are either African or Caribbean immigrants.

Recently in London there has been a wave of violence and young black youth are dying. It is so sad but Jumoke’s show peels beneath the surface. Jumoke’s also isn’t afraid to discuss serious issues such as homophobia, sexism, employment discrimination on her show. Jumoke also discusses other lighter topics like improving your life, being a good person, volunteering in the community. Check out Jumoke’ Fashola’s program on BBC Radio London 94.9 FM on the internet.

Last year I discovered NPR Radio one day while surfing the internet. I am impressed. NPR has a better in depth analysis of the news then the mainstream USA media outlets. One show that I listen a lot is called “Tell Me More” hosted by Michel Martin.Michel Martin’s show is broadcast from Monday to Friday on NPR Radio. Michel discusses a lot of issues important to the black community but she also focuses on many issues like self help, health, politics, and entertainment.

Let me just be honest in Canada the radio stations generally ignores black Canadians. There is one black radio station in Toronto but it is total garbage. There is no talk show format on that particular radio station and they focus on a very young demographic. There are some university radio stations in Canada that are kind of interesting.

The only time Canadian radio discusses black people is when something negative occurs. What about regular black people that are making a difference in this world? I like “Tell Me More” because the program does focus on regular black people that are working hard to achieve. “Tell Me More” is wonderful program because Michel discusses black achievement. So often in the media the focus on black people is often from a very myopic and racist perspective. Thank goodness for the internet! I am so happy that I found “Tell Me More” because I want to listen about black issues that are important to me.

One of today’s topics on “Tell Me More” was about Oprah and Bob Johnson the former owner of BET. Ms. Martin and her guest Dr. Juliet Walker discuss Senator Barack Obama and the Oprah connection. Dr. Walker talks about the hypocrisy of some female Oprah fans that don’t want Oprah to support Barack Obama. Ms. Walker makes an excellent point nobody makes a big deal about Barbara Streisand supporting Senator Hillary Clinton.

The second guest Alvin Hall talks about money management. The third guest sociologist Bertrice Berry talks about New Years resolutions. The fourth guest Alice Smith is a promising young African American singer. Alice Smith discusses her debut album “For Lovers Dreamers & Me” was released on a major label Epic records. Smith has a kind of folk rock sound she reminds me of a mixture of Janis Joplin, Sophie B. Hawkins, and Tracy Chapman. Smith is definitely not R&B and this is so refreshing. Smith loves rock and roll and country music. Ms. Smith is breaking boundaries about what people think is “black music”.

The question is will the music industry allow Smith to breakthrough the colour barrier? I find it interesting that white singers such as Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone, and Robin Thicke are praised for singing R&B music. I have listened to Winehouse, Stone, and Thicke and they are good singers. There seems to be a fascination in society with white people that can sing so called “black music”. However, when black singers such as Alice Smith and Rissi Palmer are crossing music genres and do not sing “R&B” they don’t receive the same kind of media attention. Why is there a double standard? So whites can appropriate black culture and profit off it but when black artists attempt to do the same thing they are scorned? I don’t get it. Also, will the black media give Alice Smith the support she deserves? I thank Michel for giving Alice Smith an opportunity to showcase her music.

I really like “Tell Me More” because the topics are so diverse and Michel just has a very charismatic, engaging personality she just draws listeners in. If you would like to listen to any of the NPR programs just go to NPR website www.npr.org

Link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17759813