Spiritual leaders voice parishioners’, community’s concerns on media coverage
By Charles Hallman
Staff Writer
The local mainstream media has been “culturally arrogant” in its reporting of prominent Blacks, says a ministers’ group. His Works United, “an informal group” of nearly 20 clergy, told reporters at a November 24 morning press conference at New Salem Baptist Church in North Minneapolis that mainstream media outlets have “discounted our community” by not including diverse voices in their reporting.
“We believe the voices of the broader African American community are not being heard,” said Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson. “We will write three sets of letters” and send them this week to the National Football League, the Vikings organization, local media outlets, and the leaders of both political parties “on the unfair treatment of our community” and request to meet with these entities as well, he stated.
The recent suspension of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, and the ethics charges levied against the state’s only two Black senators, Jeff Hayden and Bobby Joe Champion, are the group’s main concerns, continued Babington-Johnson.
The NFL announced Peterson’s suspension November 18, two weeks after the player had pleaded no-contest to a misdemeanor — he was charged this fall with child abuse after disciplining his young son. “We do not condone child abuse of any kind,” said Babington-Johnson. “We are not even condoning excessive discipline, but we are standing up for fairness.”
However, it appears to the ministers that the league “has been sporadic and making it up as they go” in its punishment of Peterson, added the pastor. The player has filed an appeal and it is expected to be heard by an independent arbiter in December.
Hayden and Champion were brought up on ethics charges in October after the Minneapolis Star Tribune published an article citing an unnamed source that the two state senators had “bullied” the Minneapolis Public Schools into signing a contract with a local community organization. Babington-Johnson called this “an unprecedented personal political attack.”
In an earlier MSR published article by Isaac Peterson (“Hayden-Champion ethics hearings delayed: Republicans defend complaints; accused deny charges,” Nov. 13, 2014), State Senator David Hann was asked if he and his Republican colleagues had thoroughly examined the newspaper article.
“There were credible reports being made by the Minneapolis paper, which doesn’t typically report things of this nature unless they feel pretty sure their source is sound,” stated the senator. “You’re not required to do an investigation before you make a complaint. I talked to the reporter. They confirmed that their story was accurate.”
Babington-Johnson on Monday argued that the GOP’s use of a “highly flawed” newspaper article to file ethics charges against Senators Hayden and Champion was “appalling. We can only conclude that the basest form of politics and a desire to restrict and hinder the ability and effectiveness of these African American statesmen is at play. They [the two Black state senators] have been effective for their constituents.”
When a reporter asked if His Works United is the Black community’s spokesman, “I don’t think we are looking for the community to fall in line,” responded Babington-Johnson. “Our community is not monolithic — we have different points of view.”
Rev. Harding Smith of Spiritual Church of God in Robbinsdale told the MSR that his parishioners have expressed concern on how local media seems to have been mainly negative in its reporting of Peterson, Hayden and Champion. “We [as ministers and pastors] have been challenged by many of our members,” added Rev. Melvin Miller of Progressive Baptist Church in St. Paul. “They are really concerned that we get involved and articulate [their] concerns.”
“Our concerns are community concerns,” reiterated Babington-Johnson.
The MSR asked him if the KSTP-TV story that negatively linked a photo of Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges and a Black male volunteer together fits their overall concerns of local mainstream media negative reporting of Blacks. “We are outraged by that,” Babington-Johnson confirmed. “It’s a series of things that have occurred” both locally and nationally.
“As African Americans, we see this phenomenon acted out day after day in ways that continue to put our community at a disadvantage as public discussions are held and public policies are made and enforced,” concluded Babington-Johnson. “African American people are not treated with the same respect [and] a sense of justice as [are] others in this society. We see this played out again and again.”
Additional reporting by MSR Contributing Writer Isaac Peterson was included in this report.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.
