The Sting of Betrayal

An Open Letter to WDAS General Manager Cody Anderson by Mumia Abu-Jamal – written in 1981

Several years ago, in late 1978, while working to prepare a newscast on my weekend shift at WDAS News, I turned around to see two men, then-General Manager Bob Klein and you, then-assistant G.M. Cody Anderson, standing in the doorway of the newsroom. I recall clearly that both of you had warm words of praise for me, like “I just want to say I really like the way you do news!” and one added, “You really sound good!” The words were warm and welcoming. I smiled, thanked the both of you and prepared the next hour’s newscast.

Several days ago, you, Cody, now general manager, remarked during a phone conversation with me, “I respect you and your work, Mumia, but I believe you have a problem working within the established framework.” Sound familiar, Cody? Soon thereafter you were quoted by a ‘DAS news staffer as saying, “He’s good, but he doesn’t fit the image of the station. It’s not the image we here at ‘DAS want to project.” Is that a true, honest quotation? Image? Are we talking about a radio station or a TV station? And whose image can I project but my very own?

In the past three years, my hair has grown long; in a form some people call “dreadlocks.” Also in that time, I have worked in “white” radio, producing pieces good enough to garner a 1980 Major Armstrong Award (first place for news) along with other staffers at WUHY’s 91 Report. 91 Report whipped KYW for the prize, a coveted one in the broadcast industry. In that time, members of the local Association of Black Journalists elected me president of the group.

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