At The People’s Meet Up town hall on May 31st in Miami Gardens, the role of Black-owned media in organizing, informing, and protecting the community took center stage—thanks to a bold and timely question posed by Hy-Lo News Publisher Janey Tate.
The panel, hosted by State Senator Shevrin Jones, featured Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, and was co-moderated by Tate and former State Senator Dwight Bullard. Throughout the event, which took place at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, speakers explored the challenges and tools needed to protect democracy. But it was Tate’s question near the end that sparked a deeper truth.
“I would be remiss—you guys see I’m wearing a shirt that says ‘Support Black-Owned Media,’” Tate said. “We’re talking about tools and giving people information to take back to our communities. One we underutilize is the power of Black-owned media. Think about Emmett Till being on the cover of Ebony. That was Black-owned media telling that story. You all go on Roland Martin, CNN, MSNBC—you see the value. But we also have local Black-owned media that amplify our stories. How can our communities use these platforms to organize and elevate their work?”
Congresswoman Crockett didn’t hold back in her response.
“That’s a great question,” she said. “The thug in charge has been shaking people down… including the press. We have media that are scared to tell real stories because of these attacks. One group you can always rely on is Black media—but here’s the deal: Black media has consistently been starved.”
Crockett stressed that Black media must be supported with intention, not just praise. She shared how she uses her official congressional budget to purchase advertising in Black publications in her district—not just during campaign season but all year long—so they can “thrive and not just survive.”
“We cannot just rely on Black faces in office. We must build pipelines and support Black platforms consistently,” she said. “So, as you advertise your sorority, your church, your events—don’t forget Black media. They may be the only ones left willing to tell us the truth.”
Attorney Ben Crump echoed her sentiments with a story rooted in personal activism.
“When Trayvon Martin was killed in 2012, nobody covered the story,” Crump said. “It was the same night as the NBA All-Star Game. He got 49 seconds of airtime from one station. But Black-owned media picked it up. The Westside Gazette, The Miami Times—they told our story. That’s when it started gaining traction.”
Crump recalled how historically, it was the Black press that documented the pain and resistance of the community—from Emmett Till to Trayvon Martin—and urged continued support of organizations like the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and NABJ.
“When mainstream media ignores our lives, our culture, and our trauma, Black-owned media will always show up,” he said. “It is the conscience of our community.”
As the town hall wrapped, the message was unmistakable: Black-owned media isn’t just a mirror—it’s a megaphone. Community members wanting to organize, build power, and protect its voice can use platforms like Hy-Lo News and Black-Owned Media as essential to their infrastructure.
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