> MEMO
> Friday March 30, 2001
>
> TO: UTRICE LEID,
> Interim Station Manager, WBAI
>
> FROM: Deepa Fernandes,
> Producer BTN &  Our Americas, WBAI
> deepaf@hotmail.com
>
> Utrice,
>
> When the program I produce every Wednesday was pulled this
> week, I was dismayed and disappointed. When I was later hung up
> on repeatedly by both yourself and Diabel Faye as I sought an
> answer to why my program had been pulled, I was extremely
> frustrated. Right now I am down right angry. Your behavior towards
> the 8 middle school children visiting WBAI this afternoon as a part
> of their Radio Reporters program was inexcusable.
>
> Utrice, you demanded to know "under what auspices" I was
> bringing eight young children of color into WBAI? This was after
> you grilled them personally as to what they were doing in the
> station. I am their radio teacher, and even I was terrified by the
> manner in which you accusingly questioned these 10-13 year olds.
> Is it any wonder these usually articulate and bubbly kids were
> completely non-responsive?
>
> Let me tell you "under what auspices" I bring eight children of color
> into WBAI. (And maybe this will explain why it is I apparently
> "broke station policy" by not seeking permission first.) As I tried to
> explain to you, these children were my guests. Yes, they are my
> students, but they were also my guests. The two are not mutually
> exclusive. If you have listened to my programming on WBAI you
> would know that I frequently air the voices and work of young
> people. And never once in the time I have worked at WBAI have I
> ever had to "get permission" to bring guests in to the station.
> Furthermore, these young folks are part of the reason WBAI exists.
> They are from communities that support the very existence of our
> station. You now tell me I have to clear every guest I bring in to the
> station. Does this apply to every producer, or only those who have
> young, low-income children of color as guests?
>
> You insinuated that my teaching radio to young children from
> Harlem was never cleared with station management. This is
> completely untrue. This project was dreamed up last year, before
> you were in position of management at WBAI. The project was
> born from a collaborative project between Public Affairs Director
> Rosemari Mealy and myself when we joined with Crossroads
> Middle School from Harlem - the same school that today's guests
> attend - and Affeni Shakur to produce a beautiful program of the
> poetry of Tupac Shakur. Rosemari Mealy was one of the key
> dreamers and supporters of this program called Radio Rootz.
> Deposed station manager Valerie Van Isler was also an
> enthusiastic supporter of a program that facilitates the teaching of
> radio to the most misrepresented and under-represented people
> (youth of color) in all other forms of media. If management
> changes, it is not up to me to get new clearance for an existing
> program.
>
> Furthermore, it is extremely unsettling that you, interim station
> manager, could so coldly declare to 10 year old Diane Lopez, when
> she courageously told you she was going to produce a radio piece
> to air on WBAI, that "well that is news to me." These kids need
> every bit of encouragement they can get to think their voices and
> opinions are valuable. Even if this was news to you, a more
> appropriate response to a 10 year old would hopefully have been
> more encouraging. Every other producer the kids encountered at
> the station (during their brief visit), Mario Murillo, Jose Santiago,
> Chris Abrams, Brother Shine, Marjorie Moore and Mathew Finch all
> welcomed the children to the station with a smile. None of these
> producers knew the children were coming either.
>
> Let me end by telling you what one of the children, Carlton Taylor,
> asked me we were leaving the station. (And after they watched you
> summons me to your office like a naughty child gets summonsed
> by the principal). Carlton put his arm around me when I came out of
> your office and asked, "Are you alright? Was she mean to you?
> She sure hated the fact that we were in the station. I'm sorry if we
> got you fired." What do you say to that? The one thing I have
> learned about kids, Utrice, is that they tell it exactly like it is.
>
>
> Deepa Fernandes