Black Radio Politically Defined: Communicating Community and Political Empowerment Through Stevie Wonder's KJLH-FM, 1992-2002

Abstract

KJLH-FM's community service activities demonstrate that the station's mission is more than talk; it is action. It acted upon residents' needs during the 1992 Los Angeles riots and has remained responsive to its audience. "Front Page," KJLH-FM's flagship program, served as an alternative voice in South Central Los Angeles and across the United States. KJLH-FM's response to the 1992 uprising was the reference point that the researcher used to identify themes and/or patterns defining the station's community role, especially as it affected civic participation and political mobilization. Beyond listeners' anxieties regarding the "violence" in the streets and their criticism directed toward the "Los Angeles Police Department," community empowerment and unity emerged among the top themes of the 1992 "Front Page" on-air transcripts. The KJLH-FM case, in particular, presents a rare opportunity to study the community responsiveness of Los Angeles' only independently Black-owned station within the context of a historical event as well as examine its relationship with other U.S. Black/urban radio stations. A significant factor that led to the station's grasp of community issues in 1992 was its location, or proximity to its listeners. KJLH-FM also has a uniquely prominent position in its community, given its ability to draw celebrities and politicians into major events and discussions.