The Washington Informer (WI) keeps its “More Than 50,000 African American Readers Throughout the Metropolitan Area” informed of the “ignorance of the community” in its predictable agitprop reporting and elementary editorializing.
Granted the WI edition that hit the streets today has the usual fare ---- an understandably uncompromising story on Michelle Rhee, a critical piece speculating that the general public’s interest in the Haiti rescue effort will wane as the UN has suspended their search for survivors to focus on delivering humanitarian aid, a regurgitated press release from At-Large Councilmember Michael Brown’s office stating for the public record he will “challenge” Mayor Fenty if Council Chair Vincent Gray ultimately declines to run, and a guest editorial from Majority Whip of the US House of Representative James Clyburn predicting that despite the problems of President Obama’s first year in office, “We will make positive history once again.” The WI rarely, if ever, deviates from the most basic commonplace, rudimentary, worn-out aged conventional wisdom from the city’s old line old guard.
Although The Washington Post and The Washington Times, on life-support as it has abandoned its local coverage, have yet to cover Big Chair Coffee, The Washington City Paper ran an article and photo in last week’s hard copy and was the first major news source to blog about BCC. Most all River East bloggers, including the tenacious CHOTR, have covered BCC daily; now the Washington Business Daily has jumped into the mix of local media who have deservedly covered the street news of Big Chair Coffee.
The reason why Big Chair Coffee is news is because it provides further hard evidence that in River East, as Bob Dylan once sang, “Times They Are A-Changin’”
For those who do not live in River East or even city proper or, even, for those who’ve not ever stepped foot on MLK Avenue, it is understandable to miss the social, political, historical, and economic implications of Big Chair Coffee’s opening. We understand if you don’t get it.
In not covering Big Chair Coffee The Washington Informer lets the community know, unequivocally, where they stand; right alongside the most ignorant and regressive members of River East’s old guard.
To contact The Advoc8te or to submit an article for posting on Congress Heights on the Rise email congressheightsontherise@gmail.com.
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12 Comments:
Great article and I hope this inspires more folks out there to submit guests posts to CHOTR.
I have to admit that as River East blogger and as a River East resident it is kind of disappointing that despite all the media coverage, attention and requests from comment from non River East media outlets in the City and nationally that I have yet to see one mention of any of the River East blogs in any East of the River publication. It's as if we don't exist. Makes me wonder.
Does anyone even read the Washington Informer? I can't think of the last time I have.
I refuse to read the Washington Informer's agitprop. I can't believe they ran a story on the MLK Day Parade but didn't say a word about Big Chair Coffee. I'm pretty sure Martin Luther King would have wanted the Washington Informer to support local businesses on a main street named after him.
Agreed. Does anyone know why WI did not run an article about Big Chair? It seems kind of hard to miss. They've been open for nearly 3 weeks now. It's kind of embarrassing actaully.
It's like "Today's news.... weeks or months from now.
Great commentary.
"Let me be perfectly clear" ;) I'm not whining, crying, complaining or fussing cause it is what it is. BUT it merely crossed my mind to ask why every paper in the city including the AP, Reuters and a couple of papers across the nation took a 1/2 second to call me and ask for my story re: MB & July 4. AND a few intities have attempted to pre-schedule a spot after Bennett is finished. I recall calling The Informer ASSuming the event directly affected my Ward and I'd ASSumed there would be an objective ear (I ASSumed that about a few constituents but...) Not a call, email, note, knock nor F-U. Despite, I'll support that paper for greater reasons than me i.e., the spelling bee, the minority interests and the advertisements trying to reach out to us cause they can't afford the WP. Tell ya what, have MB request she check it out and its done.
I saw I misspelled 'entity'. If anything else - I don't wanna know.
Mr. Suggs has pointedly identified a perturbing problem within our man River East communities and blocks. As he calls them, the “old guard” in River East has been slow to acknowledge a new class of residents investing into a community that has historically been hijacked by the identity and class warfare be elected officials who are out for self and not for progress. The reason why the “old guard” in River East is threatened is because the new residents, in an alliance with lifelong homegrown East Washington residents, are bucking up and challenging this long standing stranglehold on power.
BTW – I think my Uncle went to school with Napoleon Bushrod Uniontown Suggs Jr. years ago at Phelps.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/10/AR2008051002360.html
@Anonymous10:49am
Very well said. You hit the nail on the head!
The Wash Informer is not a representation of the community.
CORRECTION:
It should read, "Washington Business Journal."
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