I just noticed that Black Agenda Report is doing a fundraiser, and I’m passing the hat. I had an opportunity to meet and do an on-camera interview with Bruce Dixon at the 2007 Yearly Kos convention (parts 1, 2 and 3). The site is worthwhile just for the CBC Monitor and the Ravaging of Africa series and these posts on Black-Latino relations.

While I don’t agree with everything they say and would often prefer if they weren’t so hard on Obama, I have read enough to have great respect for the work they are doing. In fact, legitimate criticism of Obama (no pledge of allegiance stuff ok?) forces me to dig deeper to justify my own support. To put it another way, I certainly don’t agree with everything CNN or MSNBC says, yet they get my attention on the regular and are making billions. I have given money to NPR and Apple Computer and the US government. If I can’t support my fellow black media outlet, something is wrong.

Independent media is critical (can’t help but plug Obama’s superior position on this), and independent black media must be preserved. As I’ve had the privilege to work with my fellow JJP writers, I’ve gotten an appreciation for just how hard it is to do this thing well. This could easily be a full time job. It takes time to research. It takes time to edit. It takes money to pay for the servers and recording equipment and phone lines.

If you truly value democracy, you value a diverse and independent media, and Black Agenda Report is among the best I’ve come across.

Here’s a link to the fundraiser.

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