Tim Wise is a noted anti-racist activist whose books and speeches dissect the continuity of white supremacist structures in our society. I have broadcast and promoted his work on several occasions as I find his information generally useful. Tonight Wise will be bringing his message to an audience in Los Angeles addressing racism and the progressive left media. There’s only one problem. The event is sponsored, in part, by ‘The Ad Hoc Committee for KPFK Community Radio” and is being framed within the context of racism at LA’s liberation frequency. If Tim Wise wants to lend his credibility and line of work to this particular critique and those who are behind it, that’s fine. He is free to do so, but he doesn’t work at KPFK and is not brown like me. So if it’s ok, this brown person will speak for himself here on the issue of white supremacy and community radio.
As a Chicano radio producer and a freelance journalist, I’ve experienced a thing or two regarding white supremacy in the realm of journalism. I do not in any way deny that such a phenomenon exists even in community radio. To state such would be counter to what I have come to know personally in my life and work. However, if we examine some of the agendas and contradictions of those behind the event tonight featuring Tim Wise, we can better grasp the situation with a more sober reasoning. We will be able to understand how the politics behind the accusations are that of a snake pit and how some of the protagonists are not true allies of people of color, but rather are quite the opposite.
Let’s then begin with the Ad Hoc Committee for KPFK Community Radio. An article in the Examiner describes it as the “principle organizer” of the event taking place tonight with Tim Wise. A visit to the website for the Committee reveals that it has indeed posted a flyer for the event that purportedly addresses the ‘censuring of radical voices at KPFK.’ Interestingly enough, debate on the blogscript website is itself censored by the very fact that no one can post comments on any of the entries on the front page including the story on Tim Wise! If you click ‘read more’ on that very post you will see a companion flyer which lays out the specifics of the pushing out of brown folks at Pacifica.
Where KPFK is concerned you are presented with outright lies. Armando Gudino, Fernando Velasquez and Jerry Quickley are all listed as “unfairly fired.” I won’t speak to Quickley for reasons that can’t be discussed here, but I can and will speak to the other two. First off, since when does being laid off = a firing? It doesn’t, and that’s the first distortion. Gudino and Velasquez were not fired despite the appeal such hyperbolic language has. As in the case of the former Program Director, it must be nice to be “fired” with a negotiated severance package. This is just a small portion of the misinformation that Tim Wise is waging his credibility on tonight.
To continue, the website also contains in its sidepanel a slate of ‘recommended’ candidates for KPFK’s upcoming Local Station Board elections including the “copyrighted” candidacy of Ian Johnston©. Take a look at his appeal to voters which is exhaustively long to the point of self-importance, but focus attention on the following. In response to the question of how KPFK might better serve its listeners, Johnston© wrote: “I personally think that we could cut costs and improve our programming by replacing paid on-air talent with well trained volunteers, and replacing paid off-air talent, with people good enough at making radio, that they could teach those volunteers how to do so, too.” I ask readers to reconcile this with the listed “unfair firings” bemoaned in the companion flyer to the Tim Wise event!
According to the candidate’s plan, Armando Gudino, Fernando Velasquez and Jerry Quickley would have all been ‘replaced’ anyway! Not to mention people of color such as myself that are off-air talent would suffer the same. What more is needed to underscore the naked opportunism and usage of people of color to further an agenda? Furthermore, if this plan were to be implemented, it would present a question very relevant to white supremacy. If many of the people of color on staff currently receiving meager wages for their hard work were to be dismissed, who would replace them as volunteers? Could it be mostly white people of privilege who can afford to dedicate the time necessary to properly produce and execute radio? Who is much more likely to have that privilege of such leisure time and wealth? Anyone care to answer that? Where is Tim Wise when you need him? Oh, he’s going to be in Los Angeles speaking at an event sponsored by a Committee that is encouraging folks to vote for a person like Ian Johnston©.
Now, of course, there are folks of color in the mix who are brown like me. It’s important to examine their claims just as it is important to examine mine. I stand for Spanish language programming, an ethnic diversity of paid/volunteer staff and radical voices on KPFK. I don’t care if this is what Grace Aaron or anyone on the national level of Pacifica has or doesn’t have in mind. I may or may not have a dog in the fight, but this is what I believe in and what I will consistently stand for. On the other hand, I will not stand with ‘incompetent Mugabes’ who utilize the accusation of racism to further their personal agendas while clouding their own inadequacies. These folks are an embarrassment to the left and people of color everywhere. They do not serve the community’s best interests.
There is a tremendous amount of disinformation to sift through that I haven’t addressed here but may do so in the future. Unfortunately, it’s true that snake pit politics are necessary to address, even if they waste time that could be spent constructively building movements. With that in mind, I speak solely for myself in regards to these matters, because Tim Wise will not be speaking for me tonight. Afterall, he is not brown like me…
September 13th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I don’t know where the companion flyer or for that matter the entire post for the Tim Wise speaking engagement last night went on the Ad Hoc’s website, but here is a cached version:
http://takebackkpfk.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Tim-Wise-flyer-2.jpg
September 14th, 2009 at 9:39 am
There is something to be said about a supposed brown person that sides with the internal racist factions within Kpfk, that openly spew there hate towards Spanish programmers, why do you side with people like Maggie Lepique, the scumbag Ali Lexa, and Don Bustany?
The people we really have to start taking a look at are the above mentioned.
Maybe Ali can help you find our IP address.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:58 am
“Supposed” brown person? haha!
I make this statement on my own behalf and for no one else. Why don’t you address the content of the post instead of resorting to the binary thinking of “factionalism?”
I just can’t role with a statement that is predicated on straight up lies. Is this the best that can be done to bolster such claims? Lies? Before Tim Wise went off on misinformation, perhaps he should have asked to check the facts out with the finance office at KPFK…
It’s also nice to see your juvenile homophobia on display with the url link on your name. Some ally you are to gay people of color who face discrimination from white supremacy and pendejos like you!(You sound a lot like the Lost Causa folks)
Instead of asking Ali to track IP addresses, why don’t you just post your real name to your thoughts?
September 14th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Ha!
Get off Gustavo Arellanos nuts! Get your own style you big nosed goofball.
Gaybriel Sanmamon you suck!
September 14th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
HAHAHA! If this really is you “Eichbold,” I was wondering what you might be up to since you don’t have two hours to rant on air anymore.
If anyone wants to know why that is, they can read the Southern Poverty Law Center’s branding of Eichwald and company as hate speech mongers.
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1087
Btw, since Eichwald has been off the air, there has actually been an increase in Spanish language programming in his vacated slot, because he would switch to English after bringing Tlaloc’o on to opine on all things Jewish!
Some “attack” on Spanish language programming!
September 14th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Let’s see…misspelled, homophobic rantings–Hector, is that you?
September 14th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
It’s disgusting to know that crazy white people like Ian Johnston and Tracy Larkins have a brown front… Although it doesn’t surprise me that Tim Wise has joined them.
And who is this brown front? Fernando Velasquez?! Please. Fernando (who spent plenty of time trying to woo young Latinas with the promise of getting on the air) should consider combing his hair and listening to his grating voice on tape before ever subjecting listeners to his “news” again. I dare anyone to sit through 30 minutes of his ranting insanity. I dare you. In fact, I double-dare you.
Tim Wise should know better, but it’s clear that he doesn’t. He’s too busy trying to sound like a black preacher to actually check in with Pacifica staffers about what’s happening. Like most liberal whites, he’s happy playing savior.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I got some e-mail from a yahoo group suggesting I take a look at what this Gabriel guy wrote, but I find Maria Rivera’s comments more interesting, I hope it’s not true because, I hear its hard enough to get listeners during the evenings, and even harder in Spanish, I also hear the announcer staff guys working very hard for the station trying to improve the evenings programming block.
Last I spoke to some night staff they said it’s hard to work with some evening show’s as it is, and now it will soon be impossible to improve the evenings quality with Fernando’s horrible show during the Spanish Block.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Whoever F Roldan is posted from the same location as “Eichwald.” Politricking for a slice of the grid, eh troll?
October 16th, 2009 at 11:17 am
to all fascist white supremists/latinos who kiss ass to the zionists who control kpfk to stay on the air you shoukd get a life and stop promoting these useless psuedointellectuals who dominate the air waves at 90.7 fm.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:10 am
Cut it out you degenerates…You know for a fact that “La Causa Revista en el Aire” is as relevant as “Joaquin’s Revenge.” If you degenerates are easily convinced that “La Causa” spews hate, then I expect to read an article about the latest U.N. report on Isreal’s extreme war crimes against innocent people…soon (Sanmamon, I strongly suggest you revisit past shows of “La Causa” to use as reference for your analysis about Isreal’s extreme war crimes)- can’t wait.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I don’t have to reference any past shows other than my own. We stay on the beat of the Free Gaza Movement, Viva Palestina and human rights reports on war crimes in Gaza committed by Israel (like ‘rain of fire’ on Israel’s criminal use of white phosphorus in Gaza) and have done so consistently for years…all without the stupidities of anti-Semitism. Imagine that.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I truly beleive that “La Causa” would agree with your analysis about Israel’s war crimes, even though you sound narcissistic (stop sounding stupid). On the other hand, I also know that most Zionists would claim that you are Anti-Semitic simply because you support Gaza…imagine that…(Don’t be affraid to expose the truth because “La Causa” sure isn’t…which is what KPFK truly fears).
October 17th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Anyone who supports La Causa is a pendejo to the highest degree.
October 18th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
La Causa has always given quality air time to true community leaders such as Fernando Suarez de Solar, Dolores Huerta, Tijerina, the Brown Berets, Van Nuys workers, y los trabajadores de New Bedford and each time they ended their interview they gave thanks to La Causa to the highest degree (you should read Drink Cultura to understand the significance of the word pendejo…you’d get a laugh out of it just like I’m laughing at you, you pseudo author/columnist/radio host/and Chicano…to the highest degree).
October 18th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Joaquin: And so have many other KPFK shows, but they didn’t have an association with the gay-bashing, Jew-trashing La Voz de Aztlan, nor did they spew other anti-Jewish vitriol. Keep apologizing for bigotry, and gracias for even having an opinion of me–someone obviously reads/listens to me! Say hi to Hector for me!
October 18th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Opinion? it’s the truth, vato. Historically, vendidos like yourself have always called our Chicano leaders bigots (what’s new, pendejo?). Si no fuera por “La Causa,” you and the other cucarachas wouldn’t even be on KPFK. Instead of desperately trying to bash shows like La Causa you must give thanks pendejo…If you want to know how media uses vendidos like yourself just go to little havana and ask any gusano because if it wasn’t for the great work and leadership of Fidel Castro they would be treated like any other undocumented Raza in the US…never forget that your individual advancements are due to the hard work from shows like La Causa, pendejo.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Joaquin: Please! Know your real history and understand that Chicanos like myself ought to and do give thanks to people like Montezuma Esparza who fought to open KPFK’s airwaves for our community’s voice. If not for the idiots at the station at the time, we would have more complete archives of his program “The Chicano Point of View” which featured the “who’s who” of the Chicano Movement back then…Luckily, we still have some gems like the preserved interview on his show with Hortensia Bussi de Allende.
The anti-Semitic ramblings and poorly executed radio that exemplified “La Causa” (which was only on for a handful of years this decade) can hardly be a point of pride for our raza; only a source of embarrassment…
October 19th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Please! Obviously you have a short term memory and poor execution when it comes to current events, pendejo. Know your real history. It wasn’t Monctezuma Esparza’s rightous work that opened KPFK airwaves for vendidos like yourself, but a simple invitation, which you easily accepted, by non-Chicanos like Sonali and a producer named Alan Minsky…Porque le estas hechando mucha crema al taco, vato? stop rambling psuedo and realize que eres un contra being used as a wedge between “La Causa” and KPFK. Man…you are truly something else, vato. It doesn’t surprise me though because vendidos like yourself always use the Chicano movement to validate your efforts in fulfilling your selfish gains…so do the Chicano community a favor and “know your real history and understand that” it is Sonali and Alan, not Esparza, that you must thank, pendejo.
October 19th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Joaquin is proving my long-time thesis: the only people who care about La Causa are retrograde ramblers who self-mythologize themselves and their idols to the point of parody. Ask Chris if he still thinks feminism was a CIA plot, vato. And “use of quotation marks” in random spots? Written like a true Carreón acolyte. Say hi to Jamie for me!
October 19th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Spoken like a true contra…long-time thesis? the plot definitely just got thicker.
I predict that the Jewish Journal will publish your pseudo long-time thesis next to their analysis denouncing the U.N. Goldstone report…Can you say C…I…A? pendejo.
-Once again, without La Causa you wouldn’t be at KPFK, much less produce any work, you degenerate.
October 19th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
HAHA! Why don’t you guys just use your real names? The script is so predictable as is the writing.
It’s funny how you apologists stick to completely avoiding the verifiable anti-Semitism of the program and instead espouse your inane stupidities. (The Southern Poverty Law Center and Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting agreed as well that the program was hate radio) Talk about having no integrity whatsoever!
And what plot? Viva Palestina co-founder George Galloway was banned from Canada, but is a welcomed on my program anytime. When we don’t have him on live, we play his speeches.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Ooo…out comes the anti-Semitism, Jaime! Maybe I should tell the California Bar Association about that Facebook update you posted when Chris Eichwald was booted–you know, the one saying that traitors should be shot like in the days of the Mexican revolution. Don’t think the Bar would like to know that one!
October 19th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
-Laughter is a sign of admission.
And of course the script is so predictable when exposing a degenerate like yourself, pendejo. So effortlessly, and you continue to respond with your pseudo intellect.
Hey, let me know when the Southern Poverty Law Center and Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting publishes your long-time thesis about La Causa…I’m sure they’ll publish it since you’re a self proclaimed historian and a so-called Chicano to the highest degree, right? Or will the Jewish Journal intervene?…I’ll be waiting, pendejo.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:03 am
They already have. And can you tell Hector to stop it with the “unnecessary quotation marks”? It’s always a give as to his idiotic ramblings.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Gusano Are’leva: the Chicano community despises degenerates like yourself especially when you make ignorant comments like Jim Gilchrist is not a racist (A caller on your show later checked you on your pseudo intellect and he easily convinced you otherwise). Understand degenerate; you are not a voice for the Chicano community but clearly a strait contra who’s easily read.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Out comes the homophobic comments! Better to be wrong about Gilchrist than to side with Carreon, Eichwald, et al. Gracias for listening!
October 21st, 2009 at 5:04 pm
What position do you take on war tribunals for the zionist’s crimes in the gaza strip last january. Was la causa right when it stated that rahm emanuel was put into the white house as a trojan horse to stop peace in palestine/israel. Now thats the real reason for la causa being removed from the air. These flase atributions to chris eichwald is use as a straw man so you can help your zionists masters keep control at kpfk.
October 21st, 2009 at 6:36 pm
…And Karina Garcia, a true Chicano Leader from Columbia University, who made a fierce stance against Jim Gilchrist years before your idiotic comment over our precious airwaves, is right. Chicana leaders like Karina Garcia will always be right, and pseudos like yourself will always continue to be wrong. You Obviously don’t know and understand true Chicano history because you are a pendejo to the highest degree. Stop your idiotic rambling you degenerate.
Never forget that many non-Chicanos embrace your anti-Chicano sentiments, poorly executed radio, and ultimately your wrongs, which is why they go out of their way to publish your work. You will always be a degenerate, vendido, contra who will continue to be used as a wedge between our beautiful brown people and the truth…Que Viva Karina Garcia!
(Learn more about Karina Garcia @ La Voz de Aztlan or revisit past shows of La Causa Revista en el Aire, and stop being a pendejo spewing pendejadas)
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am
Gusano Are’leva, we are monitoring your show and, once again your pseudo intellect was checked when you attempted to ramble on, idiotically, about how our Raza was ignorant when it came to environmental issues. The mujer that you were interviewing quickly reined you in, and easily convinced you by telling the truth; that our people were far from being ignorant and instead had a profound connection with our natural environment that it’s common sense to care for its well being. You are an embarrassment..talk about having no integrity whatsoever, much less an understanding of Chicano perspectives. Don’t ever call our beautiful brown people ignorant, you degenerate.
La Causa and La Voz de Aztlan have never and will never offend our beautiful brown people by referring to them as ignorant. As for you, You’re a pendejo to the highest degree, and we demand an apology, vendido.
(You can hardly be a point of pride for our raza; only a source of embarrassment…)
-We will continue to monitor.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Will the real Gusano Are’leva please stand up?
October 27th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Keep tuning in!
November 8th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
I was just turned on to this website and I am not suprised to see Gusano Are-Leva and Gabriel San Mamon stroke each others reactionary / apologist egos. This ain’t the OC menso, your going to get your hits from the Eastside. We all know who you are, your a tio taco apologist lap dog for the white right and you will say and do anything for them because they’ve promised you tio taco glory. Why hasn’t anyone mentioned your sexuality and it’s political implications. The tendency for Latino gay males is to hate their own and to seek acceptance from the racist white gay community. You know what I am talking about. You have no class analysis, rather your analysis is solely based on your daddy and mommy accepting the fact that your a sodomite. Do the Raza a favor and move to Miami, with the rest of the gusanos or somewhere they will appreciate your apologist agenda. Viva Magon Brothers.
November 9th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Why do you constantly “troll” around and leave comments under different false names “braxedis/el super xicano?” No one is fooled by the “I was just turned on to the website,” bit. In fact, “F Roldan/Real brown person/Chris Eichbold” tried that very same shit on this very same thread!
Anyhow, it’s more of the same scripted tired homophobic slurs and other nonsensical accusations. Yeah…sure…no class analysis whatsoever! That’s why I’ve had folks like John Bellamy Foster, Joel Kovel, Richard Wolf and countless other anti-capitalists on the program. Yeah…sure…I should move to Miami when the Babalu bloggers who have hated on me in the past wouldn’t like me in the neighborhood!
And yeah…sure..”Viva Magon Brothers.” I really hope your “Braxedis” handle isn’t an attempt to pay homage to the great Magonista poet/revolutionary Praxedis G. Guerrero!
November 11th, 2009 at 10:26 am
To Admin, Gusano Are’leva, Gaybriel Mamon, is it true? It must be, because you are definitely not brown like me. And can you tell Admin and the rest of your degenerate clan to stop it with the “unnecessary quotation marks”? It’s always a give as to your idiotic rambling.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I’m the admin. No one is trolling like you! Damn, your comments are getting really desperate. You have no argument whatsoever, so I’m cool not being brown like you (which if I were would make me a fool whose insults are stuck in junior high!)
“Braxedis” LOL
November 12th, 2009 at 10:45 am
You’re the fool, pendejo. Stop stroking Are’leva’s ignorance about who our true enemies are. Karina and many other Chicanos knew years before that Jim Gilchrist was a racist, and an enemy to the well being of our people. It is obvious that your level of Chicano analysis is stuck in junior high.
Also, we demand an apology from Are’leva for referring that our beautiful brown people are ignorant. Degenerates like Are’leva do nothing but constantly insult our beautiful brown people. Fools like yourself are definitely not brown like me.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
So do you make the videos for La Voz de Aztlan too? You can admit it so long as you don’t post your “real name!”
In bringing up your early defense of the designated hate site, that’s all people have to know about the Chicano “analysis” you see as proper…
The Zapatistas don’t subscribe to your form of vile hatred. Too bad you are deaf to the encompassing messages of the Lacondon jungle.
Oh yeah, and…”Braxedis” LOL!
November 13th, 2009 at 12:50 am
Who admitted to being wrong about Jim Gilchrist and his racist rants? Gusano Are’leva did. He’s the one that spews vile hatred against our beautiful brown people by referring to them as ignorant. We demand an apology.
Also, stop your idiotic rambling and continue watching videos from other websites such as La Voz de Aztlan because it’s obvious that you’re the real “troll,” pendejo.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Still at this, Jaime? Your “beautiful brown people” is a circle jerk of anti-Semitic, misogynist homophobes. But you guys are sure good for laughs!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
If you knew Jaime, you would know he is married to a Jew and takes his daugther to hebrew school. Being critical of the Jewish Journal for presuring KPFK into taking La Causa off the air is not anti-semetism.
Jaime is an easy target for you because he is doing something. Your ascendency within the ranks of the white right and white left is a testament to your work and your message. Your satiracal portrayal of my people makes us paletable to them. At what point do we stop doing the hat dance for them and start demanding equality?
Your not a leader, your an opportunist of the worst kind. You sir are a colonial administrator. Your are the cultural buffer-zone, running interference for your gringos pimps and acting as a bulldog against anyone who dares criticize this colonial system. Congradulations, you have arrived.
May you be casterated so your genes not carry on.
Viva La Raza Cabrone.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Jaime: At least you can put your name behind your posts, or at least stick to one pseudonym. And who cares who you’re married to? Shit, “Cebada” claims he has Jewish roots, and that didn’t stop him from peddling Jewish hate. Perhaps I should call the Bar and tell them about your Facebook update of so long ago? Don’t think they like their members to be spouting off insinuations of executions…
January 16th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Gusano Are’leva, the truth is that you speak with a fork tongue. You are not fooling anyone because while you attempt to portray yourself as a so-called progressive voice by interviewing student activists that have organized walk-outs at UC Irvine, you refused to join the Chicano community in 1994 by staying on school grounds at Anaheim High School. Thousands of students throughout Aztlan walked out during the fight against prop 187 ( A state proposition that was later claimed unconstitutional by the Federal court). Once again you were wrong and our young chicano leaders back in 94′ were right.
You are such a pendejo oportunista. Stop writing on the wave of chicano activism to promote yourself with the negative elements that take advantage of the struggles of our brown beautiful people.
Understand that whatever ramble excuse you decide to respond with increases your credibility with many of your non-chicano sponsors because they embrace your past and enjoy your fork tongue.
-We will continue to monitor