Updates from BLMedia
To the Black Liberation Media (BLMedia) and formerly known as BPM Family,
By way of update, we offer this platform-wide statement. We have decided to proceed as Black Liberation Media, which Kalonji Changa is not a part of. We know this has caused some confusion which we clarify here. We are moving forward as a collective and as a cooperative enterprise in which “participants” will share ownership as we create a true liberation media project.
It is important to note the previous business model was not aligned with a democratic decision-making framework and prohibited previous ownership from properly addressing a number of issues related to Changa’s behavior. These matters included multiple accusations of abuse and threats of violence including an action which resulted in our most recent 90-day suspension on YouTube. This final act was one of many that directly and indirectly impacted the future viability of the platform.
That said, the evidence is overwhelming that the platform could not thrive with the continued participation of Changa. It was the decision of the other co-founders to move forward with this new collective of hosts, researchers, organizers and workers in order to continue the work of BPM as Black Liberation Media rather than to continue to work alongside Changa, due to his own actions and behaviors. We are responsible for building a structure that resolves the inevitable antagonisms that arise when forming a channel. This is the burden we are tasked with in order for these disruptions to never occur again. We apologize for any harm our shortcomings have caused. Our split was solely related to Changa’s unprincipled behavior, not political or ideological differences. That is all. For the BPM co-founders, there was no excuse or workaround for that behavior and the separation was necessary for the benefit of the platform, its collective, community and broader mission.
Going forward please know:
- The YouTube Channel formerly known as Black Power Media (BPM) has been renamed Black Liberation Media. Despite the new name, it will remain exactly where it is; as will all our other streaming platforms, Twitter (X) and Patreon.
- We relocated the website to blkliberationmedia.org, and can now be found on Instagram, and Facebook at Black Liberation Media.
- The majority of the original programming including: Beyond Breaking Barriers, Black Myths, Broke-ish®, iMWiL!, In Search of Black Power, Luqman Nation/Darker Than Blue, Real Talk, Remix Morning Show, Rootwork, Saturdays w/Renee, Sundaze, and Warrior Class will remain on Black Liberation Media.
- Black Liberation Media is transitioning toward a workers’ collective, and a collective decision-making and distributive model. We are making these changes to better align our operation with our politics and ideologies–which we promote and practice.
- We continue to build a media network based on a collective decision-making process reflective of our socialist values and to operate our network from an ethical code and a set of principles constructed from the radical Black politics we share.
We still have to finalize some decisions and build infrastructure to implement our politics and values. We will provide periodic updates on what you can expect moving forward. Until then, we will continue to be a Black-radical independent media project, working to provide you with the information and political education you have come to expect.
Lasima Tushinde Mbilishaka (We will win without a doubt).
Peace,
The BLMedia Collective