The latest attack on black radio at WESL could have been yet another chapter in the venerable Bernie Hayes’ book, The Death of Black Radio.
WESL gave the usual corporate reasons for cutting loose veteran and popular radio personalities such as Doug Eason and Denise Williams, e.g., the need for fresh changes, to cut costs, etc. However, there is absolutely no justification for dissing people as you give them the boot. The deejays first heard of their fate on the radio, like everyone else.
Bernie’s book peels back the layers behind the radio and music industries so that we can truly understand decisions like the WESL bloodletting. His personal perspective gave me an even deeper respect for Bernie’s achievements amidst the racism and back-biting that was – and is – rampant in the music businesses.
Numerous examples are given in the book for how black music was hustled and by whom. I couldn’t help but shake my head when I read Alan Eisenberg’s response to Bernie, when asked why his white subordinates made more money than he did. The KKSS general manager coolly stated that “white people are used to making more money than black people.” Some things ain’t changed.
The Death of Black Radio is not purely focused on the foul stuff that characterized capitalist exploitation of every commodity from humans to products. There were good times as well. Bernie got to meet or promote some of the biggest names in black show business. Some were on their way to becoming big, like the Jackson Five. They ran out of gas on their way to a gig, and Bernie had to buy them gas to save the day.
The stories will certainly cause you to reminisce. I reflected back to the days of my youth when buying records was a social event. If me and my friends had a couple of bucks to spare for a “45” (younguns, I’m not talkin’ about a gun!), we ran to the music shop. We sorted through rows of the latest hits, and there were many. None of this handful of superstars like it is today. We discussed the who and the why and sometimes even listened to the jam before we bought it. It was a collective process, because you didn’t buy the same records; your friends all bought different ones so you could borrow what you didn’t have. We negotiated with one another. Today young people go the internet and download a tune. Bo-ring!
The Death of Black Radio also explains certain policy decisions that doomed black music, such as The Boss Radio concept. Bernie’s speaking out against racist policies and practices often caused him loss of pay, promotions, jobs and so-called friends. Some things ain’t changed.
The golden thread throughout the book was Bernie’s intense commitment to promoting and preserving black culture and history. Whether it was as an entrepreneur, radio personality, promoter or member of management, Bernie’s moral compass was unwavering though not always appreciated.
History is extremely important. If it is accurate and heeded, it gives us our purpose and direction.
In 2006, this country still insists on celebrating Columbus Day, despite the repudiation of the myth by many world scholars. October 12, 1492 is a cursed day, and indigenous people wish they had never been “discovered.”
In 2006, people of African descent in this country are still putting together the pieces of our disparate history, lost, stolen or re-written. Authors like Bernie Hayes help to collect these precious nuggets and deposit them in the Book of Real History.
Note: You can check out Bernie and his book at the Schlafly Branch Library, 225 N. Euclid, on October 16 at 7 p.m.