As I delve deeper into the captivating narrative of Roland Martin, I find myself utterly fascinated by his relentless pursuit of truth and justice through media. His journey, from a high school student in Houston to a respected news anchor and producer, is nothing short of inspiring. What sets him apart, however, is not just his professional success but his unwavering commitment to uplifting Black voices and perspectives in a world dominated by mainstream narratives.
One of the biggest cultural trend stories coming out of last week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago was the party’s warm embrace of social media creators and influencers. No social media maven on the ground at the United Center got more of a boost out of the DNC marathon than 12-year-old Knowa De Baraso of Atlanta.
A young and knowledgeable commentator, educated at home and residing with his mother, gained widespread attention on the third day of the DNC. This happened after an interaction at the United Center with Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow and a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump. In a video recorded from various angles using mobile phones, De Baraso effectively challenged Lindell as he made claims about voter fraud in Georgia, where De Baraso resides.
Debaraso’s sharp comeback to Lindell was swiftly transformed into a catchy slogan for his merchandise (T-shirts, tote bags, etc.): “Is your source just ‘Trust me, buddy?'” The video of the encounter found its way onto NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” which in turn earned Debaraso an appearance on the popular radio show and podcast, “The Breakfast Club,” during the DNC.
Without a doubt, he charmed viewers in the U.K. during his three-minute live interview with Sky News anchor Mark Austin on August 22nd. Dressed casually in a white polo shirt and khaki shorts, reminiscent of a student from a prep school, De Baraso demonstrated his quick thinking and deep insight into national politics. Moreover, he proved his ability to connect with and inspire the younger generation.
In my perspective as a movie critic, this election presents an intriguing double feature: not only do we have the opportunity to dethrone President Donald Trump, but also welcome a competent policymaker into the White House. Consequently, I find myself eagerly investing in this promising political narrative.
Baraso explored Media Row at the DNC’s United Center, hoping to connect with fellow influencers like seasoned journalist and commentator Roland S. Martin. Martin had a substantial setup in this area for the production of his “Roland Martin Unfiltered” daily broadcast, as well as other programs aired by his Black Star Network.
In their concluding conversation, Martin extended an invitation to De Baraso for his very own program on Black Star Network – a proposition that De Baraso eagerly accepted. The specifics regarding the show’s format and scheduling are yet to be finalized.
Martin expressed to EbMaster that it’s not just about his understanding of the issues, but also his enthusiasm. He finds a fellow spirit in De Baraso. From a young age, Martin dreamed of a career in media and journalism. This aspiration took root when he entered a communications-focused magnet program at Houston’s Jack Yates High School in the 1980s.
Martin emphasized, “Success is rooted in an individual’s passion and need, and this young person possesses that drive. We should foster and cultivate it. It’s our responsibility, especially those of us in African-American media, to utilize our influence to generate chances for the future generation.”
De Baraso, who goes by @KnowaWasTaken on social media, openly supports the Democratic party and Kamala Harris. His political awareness stemmed from a 2022 meeting with Georgia’s gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Upon seeing an ad for an Abrams rally, he convinced his mother to take him. De Baraso felt an immediate bond with Abrams. As he reminisced, “We had a meaningful discussion about policy.” Eventually, De Baraso featured in one of Abrams’ political commercials.
Following that encounter, De Baraso developed a deep interest in electoral politics and significant policy discussions. Nowadays, he spends the majority of his time as a content creator championing Democratic candidates competing in state and local elections nationwide, along with progressive movements. His main social media outlets are X, TikTok and Instagram.
Typically, 12-year-olds aren’t using their spare time to discuss housing policies, child tax credits, or HBCU financing on social media. Instead, let’s explore what drives young Knowa.
“De Baraso stated to EbMaster that the essence of democracy is at risk, which fuels his actions. He believes he’s treading a path towards running for office someday. On The Breakfast Club, host Charlamagne Tha God referred to him as ‘the potential future governor of Georgia.'”
For now, however, De Baraso said he’s focused on “the outcome of this election.”
I can merely aspire to possess the same level of confidence and articulation that our friend @KnowaWasTaken demonstrates when discussing international news!
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) August 23, 2024
De Baraso has demonstrated an innate talent for networking, having visited the White House on two occasions within the past two years, including meeting Harris in July. His social media activities attracted the attention of Jaime Harrison, attorney and head of the 2024 DNC, who invited De Baraso to Chicago as his personal guest. During the DNC, his social media feed was brimming with photos featuring him alongside prominent Democrats (Nancy Pelosi, Gavin Newsom, Raphael Wornack, Rev. Al Sharpton, Pete Buttigieg, Terry McAuliffe, Barbara Lee) and a variety of other candidates.
According to Nancy Pelosi, I’m taller in person than how I appear on social media, a fact that made De Baraso chuckle.
For Martin, quickly being able to present De Baraso with a show indicates the significant strides he’s made over the past six years, transforming himself from an online beginner into an accomplished independent business owner.
Initially known for hosting news on TV One and providing commentary on CNN, Roland Martin branched out alone in September 2018 with his daily show “Roland Martin Unfiltered.” Two years after that, he broadened his scope by launching the Black Star Network, offering a variety of programs hosted by different individuals. Although it primarily focuses on news and politics, the platform now includes content on lifestyle, self-improvement, and sports as well.
As a passionate cinephile, I’m always eager to share my admiration for the remarkable journey of Black Star. Over four tumultuous years, it has skillfully navigated the complexities of media and digital advertising, a feat that I’ve been nothing but proud to witness. My approach has been simple yet effective: focusing on the growth of each show individually, while being meticulous about controlling startup expenses. The fruit of this labor is evident in “Roland Martin Unfiltered,” a venture that’s consistently proven profitable since March 2020, according to its visionary leader.
Martin’s fundamental approach: “Avoid extravagance, and focus on controlling costs. That’s how we’ve managed to prosper,” he explains.
In Washington, D.C., Martin initiated Black Star, investing $350,000 of his personal funds and receiving support from one key supporter: the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.
Black Star’s music is accessible for free on YouTube and a variety of online and social media platforms. He provides the fan club subscription option #BringTheFunk for his most loyal followers, which has generated over $2.5 million from approximately 30,000 donors since 2018, according to Martin.
In addition to its fame, Black Star earns income by crafting unique and branded material for esteemed clients such as Netflix, Apple, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, General Motors, and Novo Nordisk. Over the years 2021 to 2023, this revenue amounted to approximately $3 million; this year, anticipation points towards a figure near $4 million.
For Martin, establishing advertising and sponsorship agreements forms the cornerstone. However, dealing with prominent ad agencies has proven to be his greatest impediment to expansion. Instead, Martin and his team have achieved greater success by engaging directly with corporations and major advertisers. This direct approach has been a significant source of frustration for Martin and has recently led to legal disputes among Madison Avenue heavyweights.
As a passionate cinephile, let me share my ongoing struggle: “I’ve been grappling with the fact that advertising firms seem to overlook and undervalue Black-owned media outlets. This has been an uphill battle I’ve been facing for the past three years.” – Martin
Despite YouTube being a significant part of his distribution strategy, Martin isn’t making substantial sales through programmatic advertising due to the high costs involved in these types of transactions. In simpler terms, Martin explained that with programmatic advertising, you need to invest $350,000 just to generate $500,000 worth of impressions, which doesn’t yield a profitable return for him. Therefore, he considers it as an unsuccessful approach.
As a film enthusiast, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Black Star Network is thriving in an environment where numerous digital media ventures, boasting significantly larger financial resources, have shut down their operations – cases in point being the short-form video site The Recount and the newsbreaking platform The Messenger.
For thirteen years, Martin worked as both a news anchor and producer of shows and specials at TV One. Additionally, he provided content to CNN from 2007 to 2013. Just days after the last episode of his “NewsOneNow” program aired on TV One in August 2018, Martin decided to go independent, using YouTube’s free distribution for his show titled “Roland Martin Unfiltered.”
The program blends Martin’s candid observations about current news events, which often involve him labeling Trump as a “jerk” or a “fool,” with virtual discussions among Black journalists, commentators, artists, activists, scholars, and other intellectuals. Most of the viewpoints expressed are progressive in nature, but conservative Black voices are occasionally included to provide balance for more political and policy-oriented debates.
Martin attributes his resilience with Black Star to his foundational training in various facets of the media industry, dating back to his high school years in Houston. He ensured he grasped the intricacies of every media company he’s ever been employed by. He played a significant role behind the curtains during the early phases of TV One in the mid-2000s, which proved to be an enriching learning experience for him.
Martin frequently chooses to transport his show “Unfiltered” to various gatherings like conferences, conventions, and public events, where influential figures from fields such as culture, politics, academia, sports, and journalism convene. He stated that the cost of bringing “Roland Martin Unfiltered” to the DNC was over $55,000, but he considered it a valuable investment.
For the duration of the Democratic National Convention from August 19th to 22nd, Martin’s show broadcast live comments from every Black individual who spoke at the event. In an interview during the first night of the DNC, Martin boasted, “I would venture to say that we have had more African Americans on our program today than you will see on MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News for the entire week.”
At 55 years old, Martin is blazing a trail as an autonomous Black voice in news and media, a path previously unattainable before the emergence of digital media and streaming services. This is happening at a time when topics like race, identity, equality, and inclusivity have become complex and contentious due to the rise of Trump and the re-emergence of deeply rooted racism within the strong MAGA movement. During Trump’s ill-fated appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists, “Roland Martin Unfiltered” presented a comprehensive two and a half-hour show featuring various commentators who analyzed Trump’s falsehoods and offered constructive criticism on how the journalism organization could have managed the situation more effectively.
Over several decades, Martin’s Black Star Network has expanded its ownership of significant media properties, including Hollywood studios, TV networks, and daily newspapers. Now, it stands as one of the biggest completely Black-owned news media companies in the U.S. The company has experienced significant growth, increasing its full-time staff from just four in the beginning to approximately fifteen today.
Since his days in eighth grade, Martin has been dedicated to utilizing communication platforms to enlighten and inform Black communities. His main avenues are live television, commentary, books, and columns, which stem from his early career as a writer for the Austin American-Statesman newspaper. In contrast, De Baraso is a contemporary figure who fluently communicates in the digital language of the 21st century. This is one reason why Martin seeks a more personal, mentoring relationship with De Baraso.
Martin expressed his desire to share his knowledge and expertise with him, aiming to help him avoid the initial struggles often encountered when creating a show. He questioned why he should have to start from scratch when there’s already a path laid out. If he invests effort and time by the age of 20, Martin believes he could be well on his way to becoming the next-generation media sensation.
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2024-08-31 19:49