We are in a pivotal moment where journalistic integrity–especially concerning racial and gender equality–is critical, not only for the future of our democracy but the present safety of our communities. At the beginning of August, tech billionaire Elon Musk shared a parody ad that used AI voice-cloning tools mimicking the voice of Vice President Kamala Harris. The video used real images of the VP but with an entirely fabricated message meant to disorient viewers. Black feminist researchers and journalists have been ringing the alarm on the growing popularity of AI Deepfakes (and their potential impact on voter participation and marginalized voices online and in real life) since before the 2016 election.
One of the most powerful ways to compact disinformation is with a deliberate and focused influx of fact-based, information-driven content through online and news-based media. In alignment with the tradition of Black August, we are putting a spotlight on the Racial Equality in Journalism Fund and the organizations that are active in ensuring our communities have access to local and globally accurate information that services our democracy while making our future more just.
The Center for Constitutional Rights states that “Black August began in the 1970s to mark the assassination of the imprisoned Black Panther, author, and revolutionary George Jackson during a prison rebellion in California. It is a time of reverence to honor political prisoners, freedom fighters, and martyrs of the Black freedom struggle…The month of August is also rich with the history of Black resistance outside, from the Haitian Revolution to the Watts rebellion and the Ferguson uprising. Black August is a reminder of the power in unity and a mandate to continue joint struggle.”
All of these events are brought to our attention by journalists and news-based media organizations. Independent journalism should remain a necessary and well-funded tactic in our strategy of keeping score of Black political struggle to strengthen our fight for saving and protecting our democracy.
People of color-led news organizations have long-standing relationships with the diverse communities they serve and are best positioned to deliver them relevant news and information. However, these organizations are often viewed as being at higher risk and, as such, do not have enough opportunities to access resources that will maximize their impact and effectiveness. Data from the Foundation Center analyzed by the Democracy Fund shows that between 2009 and 2015, only 6% of the $1.2 billion in grants invested in journalism, news, and information in the United States went towards efforts serving specific racial and ethnic groups, only 7% went towards efforts serving economically disadvantaged populations, and only 2% of funding went towards efforts serving immigrants and migrants.
Through Borealis Philanthropy’s Racial Equity in Journalism (REJ) Fund, we are committed to resourcing the BIPOC journalism ecosystem. In October 2023, REJ awarded $5.42 million in grants to 58 news organizations serving communities of color across the country. Efforts like this are made possible by working in partnership with funding networks like Press Forward, a national initiative of 22 donors who are supporting local news and information with an infusion of more than half a billion dollars over the next five years.
This Black August, we invite you to celebrate this time by committing to strengthening your knowledge of BIPOC journalism of the past and present.
- Read articles and follow the online platforms of the REJ fund grantees.
- Refresh your knowledge on the importance of racial equity in journalism by reading the report “Repair, Reimagine, and Rebuild: Modeling the Future of News For and By Black, Brown, and Indigenous Communities,”
- Explore literature by Black political thinkers to gain perspective and develop strategies for our collective liberation.