The Last Venting
by Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr.
To: The readers of the "Community Journal"
Dear readers and community,
When I started writing this column about three years ago, I didn’t have a clue as to how long I’d actually be doing this column writing gig.
Well, now we know. It ends here with this last column.
So, what exactly does a columnist say to his readers when he writes his last column?
How about I explain to you why I’ve decided to hang it up (as it relates to writing a column. Don’t worry. I’m still the editor of the "Community Journal"--unless I get a memo to the contrary.)
Simply put, writing a column is "DOGGONE HARD!" You see, my responsibilities as editor are varied. Aside from writing an occasional news story I have a plethora of other responsibilities.
Even with the assistance of staff reporter Kia Marie Cook, I’m still making photo and story assignments, laying out pages, picking photos and stories off the Internet and email, editing and rewriting copy, developing story ideas, covering an occasional story, writing the "MCJ" editorials, mentoring students--on occasion--as well as work with freelance writers...I think you get the picture!
Oh, and I’m now working with three high school interns teaching them the ropes of this crazy business. (By the time they’re through here, they may want to pursue careers in accounting.)
My job is that kind of job. So, you can understand why I’m giving up the column. I’ve got too much to do putting two newspapers together to be thinking about and writing a column.
But the responsibilities of the job aren’t the only reasons.
For the past few months (actually for the past year), I’ve found it increasingly difficult to come up with story ideas for the column. This was probably due to my propensity to...shall I say...lean somewhat to the right of center on a number of issues that I wrote on.
This "tendency"--while it earned me praise from readers who knew where I was coming from and agreed with my stances--also garnered criticism.
Don’t get me wrong. When you do the type of column I do (...ah "did") you better expect criticism.
The straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back was my take on the situation in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina last year. I wrote some things in that column about that situation that didn’t sit well with management. As a result, I had to--from that point on--submit my column to management before it was put into that week’s paper, so that I didn’t say something unflattering about anyone or an issue.
As you can imagine, such constraints can put a crimp in one’s style. This prohibition forced me to consider what the ramifications would be of any topic I wanted to write on or in the way I expressed my views once I picked a topic.
You could say it took a lot of the "steam" out of my venting, if you know what I mean.
I think my "unique" take on the issues that affect the community--and Black America as a whole--offered a viewpoint often ignored by the Black press, which usually follows the party line of not biting the hand that feeds Black America: A Liberal ideology, which is supposed to "help Black folks" but, in all actuality, only keeps us stagnant; fearful of breaking out and following a nationalist paradigm that frees us to advance a people’s agenda--economically, politically, educationally and culturally.
This fact has become painfully clear as I did my column every other week, alternating with Associate Publisher Mike Holt, whose "Signifyin’" column will remain a staple in this newspaper you’re holding.
It hasn’t been all-bad though. I think I’ve grown as a writer and observer of the day-to-day theatre that is life in Black Milwaukee and America. (Ya’ think I’ll get a memo for comparing Black life to "theatre?"...or should that be "theatre of the absurd?")
I’d like to think that though some of you might have disagreed with my take on issues, at least I made you think (or put you to sleep, which ever came first!)
To paraphrase a former president: "You won’t have Mitchell to kick around anymore!"...Hey, relax. I was only KIDDING! (I’m sure management won’t think so!)
Well, the only thing I have left to say is, it’s been fun. Good luck and hey, vent every once in a while. It will do your blood pressure some good!
Sincerely,
A brotha who says, "adios!"
P.S.,
"BOY AM I GONNA GET THE MOTHER OF ALL MEMOS FROM MANAGEMENT FOR THIS SWAN SONG!"
