05.16.10
Cathy Hughes (The Queen Of Black Media)
Cathy Hughes was born Catherine Elizabeth Hughes in 1947. She was born in Omaha Nebraska. She came straight up out the projects. To add to her struggle, she became pregnant at the age of 16! Instead of giving up and becoming a product of her enviroment, she said her child “became my motivation and my inspiration,” She graduated from High School then got a education in Business Administration which she applied very well. In 1980 she and her husband purchased WOL-AM for $950,000. The couple put in $100,000.00 from their savings, $150,000 from investors, and $300,000.00 from an African American owned venture capital firm. Then the final amount was obtained after meeting with 32 banks! Never give up!!! She was not able to pay someone to host the show so she began doing the hosting herself. In 1987 she led a protest of the Washington Post because of their racial insensitivity when they ran a story about a African American murder suspect. This is what real leaders do!
In 1986 the station made its first profit which allowed her to be able to purchase another station for $7.5 million. From there she was on her way while other black smaller stations were failing. By 1982 she owned WOL-Am, WMMJ-FM, WWIN-AM/FM, WERQ-FM, WJZZ-FM, AND WCHB-AM/WCHB-FM. Very impressive! Not only did she become the first woman to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, she also was inducted into the Maryland Chamber Of Commerce Business Hall Of Fame. She also was presented with the first annual Black History Hall Of Fame Award. She also in 2000 was presented with the National Action Networks “Keepers of the Dream” award. A award that goes to leaders who contribute to keeping Martin Luther Kings dream alive today. Cathy Hughes is in charge of the largest African American owned radio broadcasting company in the United States. Radio One pulled in more than $50 million in 1997. Many people of other races label her as displaying prejudices against them. She does not let this get in the way of her mission. In her own beautiful words she states…..”The more African Americans I can get into management, ownership, and on-air and sales opportunities, the better the industry will be.” Ask the rapper Ludacris about how his career was jump started because she gave him a chance to intern at one of her stations. This is what real leaders do! So if they’re not doing things like this for the African American community…..stop calling them leaders! Call them preachers or crowd motivators, but not leaders!
