Knowledge my staff is here in a board member as well with you can wave your hand. [applause] we have many partners year of busboys and poets they have been a trend is partner with all of our evens eighth this double love literary art so by citing the list you will receive information about that some however like to bring our Program Partner up from busboys and poets. We have the Public Events manager. [applause] i and the booking Events Manager here so for those of you dont know now they are busboys employ its books no longer politics prose prose, have a lineup of put the events if you check us out you can see that. Several of you have passed the about the book the author will be signing the book that is at the bookstore now we will pass the event over to our facilitator. [applause] just a little bit about myself i am a social professor arrows a program called visual communication but the reason i bring that up with a minor in hiphop studies we were fortunate to have paul as a guest so i am honored to be here this is a wonderful book again thanks for coming out so as a . Introduction paul porter will let him give you his bio but also to introduce professor from Morgan State University as well. [applause] greetings. I am so glad youre here for those gentleman have the most respect but i respect them and he is my militants died that tunes me in all the time but this is special because of what i see tonight is special due to this book that was a dream at one time i did sign the deal with harpercollins that i thought was a great book and the problem with the book that was telling the truth and harpercollins at the time on the part of a bmg records it was against those that i knew so now the book was dropped and i thought consolidation happens everywhere. But you find out with time everything gets better. It may take a little while so she said she would help me do the new book because the title blackout dont let that scare you. The definition in that caught me was temporary loss of consciousness and i think were all guilty. Sometimes situations as happened in over time we get desensitized or lazy and the best thing about the book is i admit my fault because nobody is perfect even close. I have been blessed to work with some great people and have some good times and bad times but orvieto bad about cathy hughes or so and so but they can change also soulfully this evening we can talk about Different Things in the book these gentlemen will lead us through a so i dont get long winded in my deejay voice so lets get the ball rolling so thanks for making this happen and those also from booktv. I wanted to start this i kept a tight being blackout and kept coming up with the nfl. [laughter] so i call myself the cousin of gogo era of hiphop so the of book sparked a lot of things so one thing i knew about the Music Industry but i did not know when to you put it in the book and those that from recovery of legal and then wakes up. So i see a similar thing it is called the death the of radio but it seemed like radio died. So with has been about 20 years since i have listened to the radio. I too darn just to enjoy it. So i want to read a couple clauses. With overpaid and those shock jocks and Aaron Patterson of chicago. Incarcerated 17 years for those murders he maintained he did not commit. And then trying to get the story of to the media. So he was disgusted by what he heard of the radio. And was in solitary confinement most of the time did not kong into contact those young people coming off the street and cannot believe what they could say of the radio. And he wanted to make it so how anybody could understand. I dont understand he said. Why are they playing this on the radio . Is points and. When did radio die . And to whose benefit detriment . So now i will pick up. First of 8q4 right seeing the book this is an important event because this is for those who study about the reality is how to address or explain because it is just that good with no politics behind that. So the book is very important not only for those to in erupt in this area your book is chock full of detail that is exciting to read. It is great for introducing people to a system that many of us are not familiar with. So the shortest the answer to your question im not aware when radio was alive. Because the relationship to all institutions is hostile. When it is almost once we get involved there is a moment of progress with politics or media than that retrenchment and response. A moment where black radio becomes a moment in terms of politics or cultural expression and then the system reorganizes its self so live say bad death of radio is held in the context that it has never been that good. [laughter] added say great point you bring up hooking up with Eric Patterson through my nonprofit and she told me his story that was just pardon by the governor of chicago. He did oprah in tune pickup in manhattan native to be rolled around and was in shock. The things that he heard blended into my world. Lead with a source of power with a whole different five. So now he called me collect he is back in prison. But that is another story. But black radio is a myth with is not black radio anymore there are Radio Stations that cater to black listeners the dont cater to information or anything positive in with that backtoschool gm. And there was a few. I am talking about commercial radio outlets there is a big difference. And patterson taught me a lot with the music. I was working on a kiss is a new york we got into this debate and i said he is the boss put him in the air if he did so everything is about keeping a job it isnt about being conscious and as we get higher on the totem pole, i know people that ive loved to death from resettlement regional minister to Vice President but i am glad you brought him up because that was a piece of the book to me. So take that whole shock jock system you spend a lot of time and i never understood that concept so could you quickly elaborate . As this relates to black radio or radio in general . Look, everybody always asks that question does capitalism exist in america . Yes. Is there reason why you hear the same songs all over the country at the same time 24 7 . Is monday. Payola. Pay for play is how the world moves. It is different from those early days to give cockade in drugs and a couple hundred dollars. And now they display a direct cause said into your l elsie. That is why i started off the book with karen klein. She was the name that goes to programmers every saturday with cash in the envelope. And i had no idea. And then with 23 and in bills in the namesake of karen klein i never knew her but i got a call of monday i did not put this brothers name of the book because he would shoot me tomorrow and i am old produce six but 6 inches 290 pounds and he told me i did nine years in prison so i keep real tight about my people. So welcome to bt and i was shocked. So that is not illegal it is just to announce a. So to have the Radio Station announced so that is pale love but what they dont tell you about the songs that you hear with every rotation every 70 minutes. We have cater and 20 grand to play the song. [laughter] so i have been on panels with sec commissioners to document the tail going from lyricist so when hiphop said so much for so long so that is the reason day are. With the streaming and spotify. That is what i want to raise with you. So in a share this history they say that is different now we have pandora or spotify we can hear whenever we want. We have youtube success seems similar. That is a play last playlist that is the hottest but labels by positions like everything else. A the record business that they failed my net of 10 times. All of those great artists are promoted on their own. They dont want to try that out but if they do they get burned. I will not impose my own analysis argue but so one of the things that comes up there is the idea with black people in high places or executives or performers in and Barack Obamacare there is the assumption a big your critiques beyond the of personal saving what institutions imposed on individuals. What would you say your book says about the idea or the existence of leadership . I thought that was the answer and i know that it helps to have different people of color and situations when it comes to producers in picking news stories but it has not changed much. And no radio is in Great Company and made money but now it is to save corporate game as anybody else. At least bob johnson was honest. Maybe you want to share more about the book. [laughter] but he just told us if he had to make money in advance he was in the wrong place. Because he was honest. He said bt is not for black people but for me and my family but it seems like they were trying to create something. That is how he thought of it and sometimes we are caught up thinking somebody is black and will do something for all black people. So that is not the way for everybody. I dont have any beef with bob johnson or cathy hughes. I just told my story and i pray and hope that they change because there is enough for everybody. You worked there for years and years i think it could be more but i mentioned in the of book parttimers were paid part time in 1988. I had a terrible payroll system i would always double the pay the has that magic of that four hour shift paid 40. Where do you want to work . [laughter] n day play the same games. But thats scary thing is 29 years later some people are still scared are still pay 10 an hour to beyond air. Dead serious. Not trying to change peoples champions or food is named after somebody. [laughter] that is cool but does know that if that came off the back of somebody else. Thats all im saying. I love you misused. [laughter] you talk a lot about the fcc and then things start to change invalidated not allow with decency. The Paris Television council is probably the largest watched our organization that is useless in terms of enforcement. There is no level of care. The fcc is like the rest of the government trying to make money to do a thing as with the enforcement. You can listen to a river of the radio but unless a petition comes from parents with 200,000 signatures, so you could be here all day and it is up to the communities to push the button that is the hardest thing. Talking about radio and to have Radio Stations of all formats to say we would your kids listening to this with 140 markets it you know, what is happening with your kids. That is why you think radio doesnt work for you but it still controls things it is just that day split us up. To survey younger audience. Or some of those older groups. That does a service to a lot of the younger people for those who are just now enjoying that struggle removing a the battle of Net Neutrality and withy sec to manage those airways and like a bat incestuous relationship in the private sector it is hard to imagine anybody to work for when they go in and regulate that negative and particularly the black people. So those examples of the fcc and its relationship to producing and popularizing and in that they can pick up from into that contemporary moment. Digest have a question in here for clarification talking about Eric Patterson in having a discussion i failed to mention sway. He is my boy. Live to cover from california the like i talk about my weaknesses. Dc in the 80s that was telling the story earlier off the arab off the air and i am proud to tell this story because i bounceback. I had a drug dealer at his apartment one day and i walked in and who do i see . Marion barry n. Kennedy, jr. All on the couch together. I was not high. [laughter] i also know that you have the double look. End 30 minutes later but i have no problem talking about weaknesses. A lot of people dont come off looking good in your book but the way i interpret is that all of us are fallible so the al whole idea because i use the argument we cannot keep arguing for individual selfhelp solutions. So of course, everybody is encouraged to behave. To promote that negative version of our culture. I am not going to give you false praise but a very real story or personal experience. Tilling courage this pattern of behavior. It is funny because i was forced into it. I was mad and i decided to talk out. I got the boot that you lost everything. I was living in my car. And sometimes you dont see clearly but i had nothing. So i got to see everything clearly pro i was tired of it. But now fast forward many years later the Radio Station is in orlando. [applause] it may only go 25 miles radius but guess what . Everything that i knew was on their in negative a new what messages we are going to do. We had a mentor Share Program and orlando when me and my partner it is always that neighborhood that comes on the news at eleven. So every day you hear about shootings. So within the first 45 days there are 13 homicides and a 3mile radius of our studios. I was like this is unbelievable. We took kids off the street were not making money yet but but it is fun in the station is growing. That i can blow urban abc radio. So he was playing boogie knights. End on radio their arsenals that you research with popularity and recognition for go so those that run those Radio Stations in certain markets. Like bills also wish you never want to hear again. A couple of people want to hear but the majority but there is no feeling in a radio anymore. But i had a fit. But that is the passion in the old days. In kent to put these together. And some of those messages that i hear today day in and day out are selfish. To said havent listened to the radio and a long time. So if you say you dont care but did is for me. It is funny i have done every historically black college to work and i love my hbcu and the guy from harvard called me after reading the book. So i am getting paid but there goes the sucker in you. Did using my own system of checks and balances although i will cash that check but also talking to Harvard Students but also in the classroom somewhere. So now we will keep this moving. Can you hold the microphone . Hello. I follow him the boogie knights was the first night the sound you this into. That is why he played it. But i am a big music lover. In think full when i get to hear people in the community it want to know how you feel about. So really think that is solid in the community. So lazier tom joyner in those markets so i hate steve harvey but there is a reason why black radio in the most syndicated format but then you hear the same voices in the same market. So there is the reason why they cut away those voices because guess what . I have been on one zillion shows because they will not touch a. So part that we want to make sure this is clarified but the relationship between a the community through popular music and a lot of resist the idea for people in general so could you address that and with what has happened to black radio was specifically are you saying . The media in general. I have had a long discussion when you talk about a struggle and reverend sharpton one of the biggest theaters or voices in this country was a difference of him and 50 years ago . He is on network tv making the network salary. And then to have a Television Show. So i always think a little harder on that. The reverend does good work sometimes. But if you see me of a sudden in uh Television Show that might change. [laughter] and might decide to do that right. Sunday morning 8 00. So the next question so that the affair said it is unjust radio is talk. So music in general singing a lullaby to a child someplace. So my question is there are no kids in the room right now but those in the 80s were old enough to listen to radio. May be the beginning of the 90s but and we used to be regulated in a way that people could affect them. So we cannot even affect an election. So how do they learn to listen . So they stay woke instead of a sleeper and how they affect the political process . In there are politicians and people would show what the back in the day. So how does that reached down . You still havent. They will not necessarily listen to somebody older or their robin dad so how is that . We did lose a student killed by a white supremacist. So i use hiphop in our studies but we went to baltimore so when i said i created a minor hip hop study it was an uphill battle. But when restarted researching and. Teaching at Howard University as well. We have to be willing to ruth bader souls in a place whether gospel or jazz but we look to see how was disconnected socially or politically . I talked as a couple of semesters ago. The using hiphop as a vehicle will open up a lot of doors to politics and anthropology so we try to deal with these things in the university but we have to go to baltimore. Have to remember that i made this point earlier but sees bin itself was created because he was frustrated with the lack of coverage of commercial media he said we need immediate general eight mediative all with the entire context as opposed to a sound bite. So that relationship with black people and media is cost aisle. And that was created specifically to transfer those public airwaves. And to allow those entities to dominate in commercial media. The media system that ends up of the high style relationship that wellmeaning individuals will be institutionally targeted against their own people. Paso my own children are dragged away from me on a daily basis. But with a more radical and hoss style critique of commercial media. That doesnt exist only to create these problems. [applause] , that is why i wrote this book and i am not a big reader myself to make a book that everybody could read it and enjoy a and tell stories but books are not in any more. So i could tell who is buying the book or who is passing on the book to kids isnt many. Not just black people that white people everybody wants a residual in 60 seconds and then in the industry science and artist onto instagram, you can see how low the standards have been. So i hope we start doing some work we always want somebody to lead the charge. It is great when people come to help you and i get excited when people do something for me because i have done so much as one author doesnt know me from adam to help meet to have Marketing Tools to know everybody on planet earth but that doesnt happen. I love people. And then be scared to speak up. So to talk about young people. I mentioned you earlier. So talking about young people