The company has widespread race issues
by Jeff Thomas
Symbols are necessary but not enough. Our country needs corporate America to fully participate in the movement transforming society. Unfortunately most corporations aren’t ready for the new normal. While many are busy cleaning up past mistakes, like Aunt Jemimah and Uncle Ben, others do not have any Black people in positions to lead and guide the companies. American businesses must work hard to hire the talent and allow those people to make real changes.
But companies can’t exploit the movement.
Some companies have a recent history of workplace toxicity for African Americans. Yet these companies are still pushing full steam ahead to make money. Capitalists see dollars in all this new Black is good thing happening. And they are rolling out new products and programming.
Media giant was hostile to African Americans
A quick history check is in order. iHeart Media recently launched the Black Information Network. They say the network of stations is dedicated to African American points of view. Yet there are nearly $200,000,000 in current claims, settled suits and judgements against the company. iHeart has claims for gender or racial discrimination, hostile work environment, intentional infliction of emotional harm, and breach of contract in nearly every market across the country. These payouts predate the company’s bankruptcy filing.
Far worse than even horrendous Aunt Jemima symbols, the company is now attempting to come back from bankruptcy on the backs of the very people whom they harmed. Compare them to the works of Gayle Benson, who has paid hundreds of millions to African Americans. The Pelicans have had African Americans in high profile top jobs – Swim Cash, Dell Demps and Alvin Gentry to name a few. Ms. Benson is better suited to rebrand her beer company than iHeart.
Famous Actor Speaks Up
WBOK 1230 am partner, Wendell Pierce, notes the actions of iHeart in his tweet, where he states, “IHeart Media is a company proven to discriminate against its Black employees as it lost lawsuits across the nation. And now attempting to profit from the #BlackLivesMatter movement, we must be reminded of IHeart Media’s practices. This is a moment of national reckoning.
During this transformation, we must remain resolute. We cannot become modern day Aunt Jemima’s and Uncle Ben’s. We must hold these companies accountable for their current and past actions. Groups exploiting the times for their own benefit must be called out. Especially if those companies have a proven history of hostility and workplace discrimination against African Americans, we must call them out.
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
WOW! WBOK is the best in town! I love the professer and Ro and Ricky Jackson
Wbok is the best. Not changing my radio
These guys are trying to steal our culture. They are vultures.