By Gene Lambey, Particular to the AFRO
Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.-District 5) invited Cathy Hughes, the founder and proprietor of the most important African-American owned and operated broadcasting firm, UrbanOne to talk on the forty third annual Black Historical past Month Breakfast Celebration on Feb 17.
“Yearly, the Black Historical past Month Breakfast theme follows the nationwide Black Historical past Month theme as established by the Affiliation for the Research of African American Life and Historical past (ASALH),” Hoyer shared. “Dr. Carter G. Woodson, acknowledged because the Father of Black Historical past Month, based ASALH in 1915 to hold forth the work of Black Historical past Month.”
This 12 months’s breakfast celebration was held at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Md.
“It’s with honest humility and gratitude that I’m becoming a member of the forty third Annual Black Historical past Month Celebration that Congressman Steny Hoyer has carried out for over 4 a long time,” mentioned Cathy Hughes.
This occasion was created to advertise African-American artists now and sooner or later to proceed doing their work.
“As a lifelong supporter of the humanities, I strongly consider arts and humanities are a vital part of our democracy. American artists remind our nation of who we’re – and African-American artists play a key function in that in our historical past and our future,” mentioned Hoyer. “One among my high priorities in Congress is securing strong public faculty funding and making certain that Maryland faculties can preserve and broaden the humanities for college kids within the Fifth District.”
Congressman Hayer opened the occasion, itemizing a number of African-American figures within the arts from poets resembling Phillis Wheatley to rap artists resembling Widespread. He spoke on the help of African-American artists in the course of the top of the Civil Rights Motion.
“The Black Historical past Month Breakfast has a wealthy historical past with distinguished audio system together with my buddy and brother the late Congressman John Lewis, then-Sen. Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore,” Hoyer advised the AFRO. “For 43 years I’ve seemed ahead to the BHMB breakfast as a spotlight of my 12 months – bringing collectively group leaders, public servants, and Prince Georgians to rejoice Black historical past. I used to be proud to companion with my buddy Betty Richardson a few years in the past to determine the Black Historical past Month Planning Committee which is made up of group leaders who spearhead this glorious occasion.”
After referencing these historic, previous and present Black artists, he spoke about Hughes and her background. Hoyer expressed that Hughes helped “amplify the voices of so many artists” over time.
“She is a lady with nice appreciation for the humanities and an incredible work ethic,” mentioned Congressman Hoyer.
Rising up within the tasks in Omaha, Nebraska, Hughes realized to adapt and developed herself. Whereas caring for her son, she attended the College of Nebraska Omaha and Creighton College, and took Enterprise Administration programs.
Her early profession in journalism and radio and time at these universities ready her to work as the final gross sales supervisor for Howard College’s radio station, WHUR, in Washington D.C. in 1971.
Hughes helped pioneer the “quiet storm” format, together with Howard College intern Melvin Lindsey in 1976. The “quiet storm” format named after Smokey Robinson’s tune would tie into the late night time WHUR present, opening with rhythm, blues and clean jazz, to embrace jazz fusion music. The format was adopted by stations throughout the nation shortly.
She purchased her first radio station, WOL-AM in 1980 and continued shopping for radio stations. Including to those radio stations, Hughes ventured into tv, radio discuss exhibits and music genres.
In 2004, her platform, City One, went public, changing into the most important African-American multimedia firm. Hughes turned the primary profitable African-American girl to personal a public firm.
“Right this moment, City One oversees dozens of stations spanning most of the greatest media markets in America. City One has created a platform for black voices and artists that will have appeared unimaginable only a technology in the past,” mentioned Hoyer. “None of it might have been attainable with out Cathy Hughes and her extraordinary imaginative and prescient.”
