The Black Power 96 Radio team would like to extend a profound salute and appreciation to the staff and volunteers who participated in making our first ever 5K Walk for Black Power a success on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Due to the response we received with the planning process, we are determined to make this an annual event for our station and community.
The objective of this walkathon was to raise resources as part of our end-of-year fundraising, to ensure Black Power 96 Radio can maintain operating expenses until our next fund drive. With the theft of previously awarded and designated funding by the Pinellas County Commission, as well as legal fees needed to sue the commission for its blatant discriminatory and racist attacks on APEDF and BP96, we’ve had to carry out more fundraising efforts than normal this year. We wanted a creative fundraiser that also allowed us an opportunity to directly engage with the supporters of this radio station. We set out on a bold mission with limited time to pull this process together, and it didn’t disappoint.
While we did not achieve our fundraising goal, we did receive several donations, t-shirt purchases and 5K Walk for Black Power registrations. The people really loved the “Get out that bed!” slogan, coined by Station Manager Eddie Maultsby. It’s a statement that resonates with and inspires the African community. The 5K Walk for Black Power allowed us to meet with some of our station’s supporters face-to-face while proudly walking through the African community of southside St. Pete with our bright yellow shirts and Red, Black and Green African flags.
People honked their car horns, threw up their Black Power fists, waved their t-shirts and even stopped us along the way to inquire about Black Power 96 Radio and the Uhuru Movement. This was no small thing, considering the rapid colonial gentrification that threatens the existence of the African community. A sense of pride and resistance was the standout contribution that Black Power 96 Radio made with this walkathon, and we have so many to thank for that.
The walk began in the parking lot of the Uhuru House, where comrades Grace and Loria staffed the registration table. Over a positioned loudspeaker, Station Manager Eddie could be heard announcing the event and playing the best in gospel and throwback R&B. Africans began to walk up to the table, some only initially planning to purchase a t-shirt, but signing up to walk instead. Comrade Craig, guitarist for the Faithful Five escorted the walkers on motorcycle with the RBG flag proudly flowing. Director Chimurenga of the African People’s Socialist Party tailed the route in his vehicle which held water and seating for those who may have gotten tired along the route.
Comrade Akilé provided political education along the way, stopping at important historical markers like 16th street, where 18-year-old TyRon Lewis was murdered by the St. Pete Police, sparking rebellion in the city. There was also a stop at the Tropicana Field baseball dome, where Comrades Akilé and Kondji were able to talk about the destruction of the historic Gas Plant District, as the well as the site of the 1914 lynching of an African man named John Evans, which saw the attendance of prominent St. Pete ruling class representatives such as the founder of the now Tampa Bay Times and Straub, for whom a public park is named after.
Along the way, a drone hovered above engineered by Black Power 96 volunteer Smiley, who captured various shots of the 5K Walk for Black Power. Once the group returned to the Uhuru House parking lot, sweaty and energized, the people gathered around for a group photo.
Special thanks to the Black Power 96 Radio Core Team including:
- Station Manager Eddie – for leading this process
- Lisa – for setting up the website and coordinating promotions, designing the outreach material
- Sandy – for leading the phonebanking process and following up on all of the assignments
- Mariah – for promotions, content development and posting to our social media platforms
- Chris – for being a business sponsor
- Loria – helping to coordinate registration, staffing the registration table, sending out follow-up reminders and business sponsor inquiries and assembling the swag bags
- Elyshah – for assisting with promotional content development, including the PSA used for on-air promo
- Kondji, Dir. Chimurenga, Johnny X – the local unit of the African People’s Socialist Party who assisted with outreach, including distributing posters and fliers, phonebanking, and for providing security on the day of walkathon
- Tangya – for assisting with outreach, attending Social Sundays with Mr. Eddie, and for walking with us
- Grace – for assisting with set up, breakdown and staffing the registration table
- Smiley – for capturing this historic event on video
- Craig – for providing an escort on motorcycle
- Bola – for assisting on set up, break down and walking with us
And of course, thank you to all of our walkers, some of whom came from Tampa or Clearwater to participate.
If you didn’t have a chance to contribute during the walkathon, you can still donate at BlackPower96.org/Donate.
We look forward to seeing everyone again at next year’s 5K Walk for Black Power!