The National Association of Black Journalists is facing outrage after inviting Donald Trump to its Chicago convention.
The announcement that Trump would join a Q&A panel arrived late Monday evening. Rachel Scott from ABC News, Harris Faulkner with The Faulkner Focus and Fox News, and Kadia Goba of Semafor will lead the conversation on Wednesday, July 31st. Many believe that the timing of his appearance is suspicious, especially considering that Trump declined invitations by the NABJ in 2016 and 2020. Roland Martin was just one of thousands who slammed the NABJ for their decision. He revealed on Twitter that the organization had not invited him or any other Black male journalists to participate in the event.
Others believe that with Faulkner on the panel, Trump and his many harmful views will not be properly addressed, as she works for Fox News. Writer and pop culture expert Touré took this position, and his peers agreed, with Jemele Hill even calling for Trump to be disinvited.
NABJ president Ken Lawson responded to the wave of outrage online, promising that the conversation would focus on getting answers for minorities this election season.
“While NABJ does not endorse political candidates as a journalism organization, we understand the serious work of our members and welcome the opportunity for them to ask the tough questions that will provide the truthful answers Black Americans want and need to know,” he wrote in a statement on his Twitter.
Still, this did nothing to calm the anger felt among members and others in the media.
Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah announced she was stepping down as co-chair from this year’s NABJ convention, with others even refusing to attend altogether.
