Samuel William White, Jr.

I grew up in 1950s New York. Like all families coming north to America’s urban centers, my parents worked hard at as many jobs as could be juggled. I recall the second-grade teacher who hugged me and told me how great I was going to be; later, a young scientist took me to see the Columbia nuclear reactor, and I knew that this was my college. A class visit by a former student discussing his escape via the Columbia-East Harlem Scholarship made it the only college to which I applied. I learned there that in doing whatever you feel is important, you have to go for broke. Half steppin’ and indecision are bad for your health.

At Columbia, I learned not only speaking and writing truth to power, but also taking on the power. We challenged this major U.S. university over construction of an exclusive gymnasium in a Harlem public park, too few Black student admissions, a miniscule Black faculty, etc. We had the world’s attention, and even received a postcard from China–Chairman Mao.

After graduation, I worked in Washington, D.C., with the anti-apartheid movement and in New York with the Harlem Reclamation Project – a supergroup of activists, members of SNCC, the Republic of New Afrika, Harlem Fightback (the Black and Latino construction workers), the Black United Front (NY chapter), the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood, and others.

I learned the value of organizing and working via collective action from Ella Baker, whom I “saw” up close and personal via Bob Moses’ Algebra Project in Brooklyn.

And I’ve learned that you don’t stop.

In the ’50s and ’60s, Dr. Anna Arnold Hedgeman was the city’s foremost Black woman activist. At the close of visiting hours one night at Harlem Hospital, in her dying bed, Dr. Hedgeman directed me to continue to work in the community, a charge I have taken seriously.

On the WBAI board, I would develop a project utilizing the general framework of the Community Board (CB) system for outreach directly to neighborhood organizations. The CBs, formed by the Borough presidents with advice from City Council members, do not listen to the concerns of many individuals and groups within their district lines. A WBAI project could bring neighbors upfront, causing a ripple effect across the nabe, the City, and the nation, with news, views, and cultural formats, on radio linked to today’s social media.

Station fundraising at local political, social and cultural events means more opportunities for people to reinvest in WBAI, broadening and stabilizing our base.

Please vote for all the Justice & Unity candidates–endorsed by Bernard White, Michael Tarif Warren, Father Lawrence Lucas, Sarah Flounders and the International Action Center, and others. Please use the following rank order to maximize your vote (it is not a reflection of the personal value of any of us as candidates).

• Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?

  I consider WBAI to be a precious entity and I'd like to promote it and make it stronger.

• How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica Foundation, WBAI and the community?

  At the present time these four bodies are totally isolated and insulated. There is no two-way communication. Also, there is a feeling of powerlessness among some LSB members, and unless we begin changing some of the By-Laws and practices that prevent these three groups from having greater openness and being able to exchange ideas, we will be missing out on crucial opportunities to bring WBAI forward.

• How could the station better serve its listeners?

  A fundamental issue for WBAI is to maintain its mission and keep its promises to its supporters. There are listeners who donated many, many dollars and still have not received their promised premiums.

• Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience?

  WBAI should do outreach to more Community Organizations and offer internships to young folks. We should also be in diverse communities to broadcast and conduct on-the-spot interviews from their celebrations, events, conferences, etc.

• What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel WBAI should solicit?

  I think we should have an Annual WBAI Party to honor an outstanding progressive worker, artist, etc. It was done once many years ago. We should also have live auctions with a musical component.

• Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board.

  I have worked for many years as an organizer, educator, and progressive union chapter leader. I have very good organizing skills. I am now retired and can devote more time to WBAI. We desperately need help with strategic planning and fundraising. I am currently affiliated with a progressive organizational-development/capacity-building firm and can access some free technical assistance and tools to help WBAI.

• Do you anticipate missing any Local Station Board meetings due to family or job related problems or inadequate transportation?

  My attendance at LSB meetings has been very steady throughout my present term, and I do not anticipate any problems out of the ordinary that would prevent me from maintaining this high level of attendance.

• On which Local Station Board committees* are you interested in actively serving? If you are a current Local Station Board member, on which committees do you currently serve?

  I could serve on one or two LSB Committees: the Committee of Inclusion and / or the Program Director Search Committee.