James Brown boldly proclaimed in one of his most famous songs, “this is a man’s world.” He then quickly came to his senses and clarified that statement by saying, “it would be nothing without a woman or a girl.”
Since the beginning of time, girls and women worldwide have been building strong spaces as they lead and excel across various industries. And if one wants to talk about excellence in journalism, some prominent names such as Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, and Robin Roberts come to mind.
However, you can’t let the list keep running without the commentary of younger Black women who are also forging paths and making waves, like Angela Rye, Jemele Hill — and Cari Champion.
Champion is a noted journalist and broadcaster known for her unapologetic commentary, insightful dialogue, and championing (no pun intended) gender equity. And much of her power manifested during Super Bowl LVII weekend as she partnered to celebrate the Black women journalists making headline-worthy strides and bringing their perspectives to the stories told in sports.
However, that weekend was just one moment on the grand scale of support and advocacy Champion has for people of color, especially Black women, in media.
Setting The Record Straight
In a September 2022 episode of NPR’s podcast, The Limits With Jay Williams, Champion outlined her advocacy and how she is actively working to make sure Black women have a seat at the table.
“I’m not bubbly, friendly, sweet. None of that fits who I am,” Champion noted on the podcast. “But what I am is trying to create a world in which we can all have a seat on the table, talk to the table, build our own table so that it’s not so rare. Right?”
The New York Post reported on Champion’s experience at ESPN with her explaining how the organization treated her and made it clear she did not matter to them. So it is through her passion and personal experience that Champion stands on the hill, ensuring those behind her don’t face the exact same challenges.
One of the ways she is walking it like she talks it is leaning into the power of collaboration, an effort she believes has been a long time coming.
“I recently had the opportunity to talk with Robin Roberts. So, I think of where she is right now on ‘Good Morning America’ and how she began her career early on in local TV and then went to ESPN — things have come so far from when she was just trying to make her way as a journalist at ESPN,” Champion described to AfroTech. “I am thrilled by what I’ve been able to notice in terms of our access, how we’ve been able to take up certain lanes and make them our own. I think that you are seeing the rise of Black women and sports journalism and journalism, period — but in sports specifically, and it’s really beautiful to watch.”
She added: ‘We are creating a voice that cannot be denied in this space.”
