Do we need black journalist?

L.A. Parker keeps it real

Have you noticed the black face getting a few articles in the Daily Times lately? His name is L.A. Parker. 

This week, L.A. Parker is covering the U.S. Open for The Trentonian and all the other papers owned by the Daily Times’ parent company. 

He got a chance to ask a question Tuesday to Sergio Garcia, who made insensitive remarks in the direction of Tiger Woods last month. L.A.’s question was as follows:

“Do you have an understanding that the comments that you made regarding Tiger Woods extend beyond Tiger Woods, that they have a stinging feeling to people who look like me, and other people who don’t look like me that like you and support you and want you to do well out here? I mean it’s not just about you and Tiger. This goes beyond, way beyond that. Can you comment about that?”

I really don’t care what Garcia’s answer was. I’m just thrilled that a black reporter had the balls to ask the right question. 

The huge problem we have with our local paper is that there is no one asking the right questions on behalf of the black community, and the black community doesn’t care to challenge it. We keep buying and reading their papers and accepting the fact that the paper doesn’t seem to make any attempt to employ a writer that comes from our back yard. 

Maybe blacks just don’t want to become journalist anymore; maybe they aren’t applying for jobs with small papers; maybe they aren’t being actively recruited; maybe the readers don’t care what color their reporters are. Should they?

Amusingly, all the papers in the Daily Times’ family share L.A. Parker as if he’s the only black guy qualified to represent. Race doesn’t determine if you’re a good reporter or not, but it’s sad to see how few blacks are in the business, regardless of the reasons.