Are you bought or up for sale?

The civil rights movement possibly was the last rallying point for millions of Americans. Unfortunately that battled ended without winning the civil rights war. Economic empowerment received a band aid fix called the "American Dream".Segregation, education and constituational law were all fought for. Over forty years later we can all see that the playing field will never be balanced in this so called land of the free.Broadcast media does a great job of masking economic empowerment. Today's children see and hear more images showing money and bling not wealth. Television and Radio methodically tell us what our issues are. Hurricane Katrina is a prime example... We all were schocked by the pictures and now have rallied with enormous response.The shame is we have not rallied for the millions killed in Africa. Never rallied or became outraged like this because our children's schools are inferior. The owners, producers, program directors and print media hand feed us "our" issues. It is time to Katrina the media.My website colleague and most of all friend Lisa, shared a story on WLBT TV that resonates in my mind almost daily. During the civil rights movement WLBT in Jackson, Mississippi blatantly showed negative images of people of color during the movement. The NAACP challenged the FCC law and most of all challenged the system. The license was eventually revoked and new ownership installed the first Black GM of a television station in the late sixties.Almost forty years later there are thousands of employees thru out media. Some in positions of power but most bought while the other's are up for sale. Bamboozled into believing that a good living is economic empowerment.This past week I wrote a letter to management at WAOK radio in Atlanta. WAOK is owned by Infinity Radio whose parent company Viacom, owns BET and MTV. For the past six months WAOK has filled an evening airshift with "Community Talk" a daily show with various UNPAID host. WAOK has a Black GM and Program Director. WAOK is 24 hour talk. Understand my theory now on "being bought" or "up for sale" ?I caught hell for sending that email from Black folk. The management (bought) questioned my motives... The unpaid host (up for sale) bitched because they will be replaced with a PAID staffer. The "yes" master mentality is alive and well.Viacom the parent company has three top executives who each made 52 million in 2004. WAOK had six months of free "Community Talk". Can't get that economic empowerment unless you fight or ask for it.