Black Journalists Told Y’all Years Ago That White Supremacy Was a Problem

Reporters and editors of color sounded the alarm for years, but White media owners and editors largely ignored us

Journalist April Ryan, seen on a TV monitor, asking questions in the White House press briefing room. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Thanks to the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, and the riot that inspired it, Americans are being forced once again to try and make sense of America’s unresolved — and mostly unacknowledged — relationship with White supremacy and White nationalism.

From the purpose of Trump and his allies in Congress — disenfranchising the communities of color that voted him out of office — to Kevin Seefried, who was proudly standing on the floor of the House of Representatives holding a Confederate battle flag, the symbols of that relationship were on full display during the riot.

Since that time, I’ve heard newspeople say and write the words “White supremacy” and “White nationalism” more than I have since the late ’90s when I was covering those groups. However, you’ll have to forgive me for not wanting to give “the media” a cookie just yet. For years mainstream media has ignored the carnival barker aspects of the Trump administration and is only just now finally seeing why folks like the Proud Boys saw him as a fellow traveler.