The recent slanderous comments against WBOK Radio, its owners, staff, and its audience are nothing short of reprehensible. WBOK’s talk radio elevates Black voices and perspectives. However, the station faced a vicious attack filled with baseless, racially charged stereotypes. These remarks reveal the speaker’s ignorance and bigotry more than anything else.
A Shameless Attack on WBOK Radio
In a shocking display of arrogance, lawyer Justin Schmidt defamed WBOK 1230 am on Newell Normand’s show on WWL Radio. WBOK has long been a beacon for the Black community in New Orleans. Schmidt’s words, dripping with condescension, were false and deeply offensive. His comments aimed to undermine the station’s credibility and integrity. Normand supported Schmidt, reflecting a deep-seated resentment towards Black excellence and blatant disregard for truth.
Maybe it’s just a slap on the wrist. But I think there’s a bigger issue here. I’ve listened to WBOK long enough to know, over the years, that they don’t have an issue with certain things that are darn right criminal. And I mean criminal activity. It’s part of the whole “we’re due this.” I mean it’s entitlement This is our entitlement, and so nothing done was wrong. So we’ll see how that plays out.”
Attorney Justin Schmidt on the Newell Normand Show WWL radio 10:46am on Friday August 23, 2024
Racist Tropes and Ignorant Stereotypes
Let’s be clear: Schmidt didn’t just criticize—he resorted to the most dangerous racist talking points. Schmidt claimed that WBOK 1230 am and its owners don’t have an issue with “criminal activity” and suggested the station promotes a sense of “entitlement.” He parroted tired and harmful stereotypes used for generations to demonize and discredit Black individuals and organizations.
The accusation that WBOK, a station dedicated to giving a voice to the voiceless, condones criminal activity is absurd and offensive. This attack isn’t just on the station—it’s an attack on the entire community WBOK represents. It’s a deliberate attempt to undermine Black voices and perspectives, painting the entire community with the broad brush of criminality and dismissing its struggles and achievements as “entitlement.”
The Excellence of WBOK Radio’s Leadership
The owners of WBOK Radio are not just businessmen—they are pillars of the community. Wendell Pierce, Troy Henry, Cleveland Spears, and myself work tirelessly to uplift others. We have created spaces where Black voices can be heard and respected. We built a station that is more than just a media outlet; it’s a platform for change, a voice for the unheard, and a testament to what Black excellence can achieve.
Our team has faced challenges and overcome them with grace and determination. We bring in high-profile guests to the station and offer critical discussions on issues affecting the Black community. WBOK’s success, in creating something meaningful and impactful, clearly irks those who would rather see Black voices silenced.
Jealousy, Resentment and No Diversity
WBOK’s success breeds jealousy. The station has secured high-profile guests and has become a respected community voice—something other stations struggle to achieve. This success isn’t due to some mythical “entitlement,” as Schmidt suggests, but rather to the hard work, intelligence, and vision of its owners and staff.
For example, WBOK landed an interview with Jeffrey Vappie. This is probably the most desired interview in New Orleans media today. I bet $10,000 to 1 that Newell Normand wanted that exclusive interview. Instead of acknowledging WBOK secured it before him, we got resentment. The resentment from those who cannot match WBOK’s achievements is unmistakable. Instead of acknowledging the station’s success, Schmidt and Normand chose to belittle it with racist tropes and baseless accusations. Their inability to recognize WBOK’s excellence reveals a lack of intelligence and an unwillingness to see beyond their own bigoted worldview.
WBOK also offers a diversity of thought. In addition to media legends like Ro Brown, Norman Robinson, Sally Ann Roberts and Monica Pierre and all the other African American hosts, we have White hosts. And we have had them for years. And our guests include every creed and color. But WWL lacks this diversity. There is not one African American host at that station. Keep in mind the New Orleans media market is over 40% African American and 10% Hispanic. But good ole WWL radio only hires White hosts. No wonder their guests feel free to be so openly racist. That might only be criminal if we apply the Justin Schmidt standards, but we know that ain’t right.
A Call for Accountability
The slanderous statements made by Schmidt, and supported by Normand, must not go unanswered. These men have crossed a line, and they must be held accountable. It’s not enough to dismiss their comments as ignorant or misguided—they are dangerous. We must call them out for what they are: racist lies meant to discredit and demean.
WBOK 1230, its owners, the staff and the audience deserves better. The team deserves recognition for the work it has done and continues to do for the community. Our team deserves respect for all the achievements and commitment to providing a platform for Black voices. Most importantly, our team deserves an apology from those who would rather tear them down than see them succeed.
WBOK Radio: A Shining Example of Black Excellence
WBOK stands as a shining example of Black excellence in action. The slanderous attacks from Schmidt and Normand only highlight the deep-seated racism that still exists in our society. Racism seeks to undermine and destroy anything that challenges the status quo. But WBOK will not be silenced. Its owners and staff will continue to lead with integrity, intelligence, and strength. The community will continue to support the team in the mission to give voice to the voiceless.
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu
Publisher — Black Source Media
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu
i never listen to them clowns
I mean wwl..they are the clowns.