RELAUNCH

5:30 a.m.

Daily my alarm clock blasts the sounds of the local R&B/Soul station here in the heart of Dixie. During the work week the sounds of The Steve Harvey Morning Show dominates the 450 sq. ft I call home.  The soundtrack on my ride into downtown is always The Steve Harvey Morning Show. Most folks know (or think that) Steve Harvey is a new age relationship guru/expert (or at least think that he thinks he is). Nonetheless, his show is filled with conversations about building relationships, recognizing negative relationships and how to overcome them, steps to maintaining relationships and of course marriage. Steve makes everything seem possible when it comes to love if certain basic steps are followed (of course you can get them at a nominal fee if you purchase his book(s)). Nonetheless, Steve is pretty positive about Black love, or love in general.

4:30 p.m.

The soundtrack of my commute from downtown to class is the total opposite to my morning trek. Enter Micheal Baisden. Rarely if ever do or will you hear stories of successful love stories being discussed by Baisden or on his show. There is the regular reference to his co-host George Wilburn and his marriage, but ordinarily that seems to be the extent of it.  I don’t think Baisden is against love or loving, but sometimes I wonder if the brother needs a hug!

Now don’t get me wrong, I realize that life isn’t peaches and cream but I do believe in love and success. I understand the points both brothers are making and that we need variations in conversations, but something about the extreme oppositeness of their tones doesn’t sit quite well with me.

Perhaps the contrast between the love/loving/lovers aspect of these two shows boils down to simply what they think their listeners expect of them. The only problem with that idea though is quite often they share the same exact listeners. *Socialite Shrug*

My question for my reading audience (all 250 of my subscribers) and sporadic readers, LOL…
What implications if any do we face as a community from these radio personalities conversations regarding love in the black community, is it healthy, confusing, irrelevant or all of the above?