Through Our Eyes: Black Journalists Covering Race, Identity & Culture

This past year we have all experienced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the uprising for Black lives and the rush of a rapidly changing news cycle.

Journalists of color have worked to report on stories close to home and to protect themselves against a virus that disproportionately affects Black and Brown people, all while living with the very same realities of the communities they serve. Seldom are Black journalists able to tell their own stories. The We Live Here team values authenticity, vulnerability, and transparency.

With these values in mind, we share with you the voices of Black journalists from across our region. These journalists and others have done and continue to do great work in very challenging times.

Moderator Jade Harrell

Jade Harrell is the newly appointed Director of On-Demand Content & Community Partnerships for St. Louis Public Radio and is a member of the executive leadership team. She is also an Emmy Award-winning storyteller, TEDx speaker, radio and television host and producer. Her passion for community and skill in storytelling expanded at iHeart Radio, where she produced the legacy community affairs program, “Sunday Morning Live” for over 13 years across 7 distinct radio stations.

With her company, RareGem Productions, she established a proven track record of excellence in media production, podcasts and consulting. She has celebrated repeated success with projects for organizations that include Barnes Jewish Hospital, Siteman Cancer Center, PrepareSTL, Alive and Well Communities, St. Louis Regional Health Commission, Beyond Housing, Midwest BankCentre, KSDK Channel 5, Radio One, the St. Louis American newspaper, BioSTL, CET and Fifth Third Bank.

Panelist Lauren Brown

Lauren Brown is the Host and Lead Producer for the We Live Here podcast from St. Louis Public Radio and PRX. Previously, she worked as a freelancer with American Public Media on an hour long documentary about the racial climate on college campuses titled Black at Mizzou: Confronting race on campus. In 2020 she received an Education Writers Association Award for her work on diversity in education. In 2021 she became a National Edward R. Murrow Award winner for her work with American Public Media. She is originally from Chicago, Illinois and enjoys collecting vinyl records.

Panelist Andrea Henderson

Andrea Henderson covers race, identity and culture for St. Louis Public Radio. Before that, she assisted with the production of NPR’s podcast “Code Switch” and produced pieces for the weekend edition of “All Things Considered.” Andrea’s passion for storytelling began at a weekly newspaper in her hometown of Houston, Texas.

Panelist Sylvestor Brown Jr.

Sylvester is a long time St. Louis journalist. Sylvester is currently the Deaconess Fellowship writer with the St. Louis American newspaper focusing on COVID-19’s impact on the black community. Sylvester is the author of three books, “When We Listen: Recognizing the Potential of Urban Youth,” “White Castles with Jesus & Uncle Ray at the Used Tire Shop” and “Gateway Gas,” his first novel.

Panelist Malik Wilson

Malik Wilson is in his third year in the television business. He started his career in North Dakota working as a general assignment news reporter at a CBS station. There, he worked alongside the realities of COVID-19 and it’s affects on people, the murder of George Floyd, the election, and so much more. Malik now works here in St. Louis as the co-host of the morning lifestyle show ‘Show Me St. Louis’ on KSDK Channel 5. He focuses now on more positive news and spreading his energy through the camera lens.

Panelist Gabrielle Hays

Gabrielle Hays is a Communities Correspondent for the PBS NewsHour. Her reporting focuses on inequities, culture and ensuring communities of color get the representation they deserve. Prior to reporting for the NewsHour, Gabrielle worked for Nine PBS and before that she was a nightside breaking news reporter in Knoxville. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and when she’s not reading a book, she’s exploring the city and giving back to her community.

Panelist Camron Rhodes

Cam “Voice Of Cam” Rhodes is a guerilla journalist, activist, photographer and founder of, “Voice Of The People News,” (VOP) an independent St. Louis news source. Cam co-founded “RealSTL News” in the Spring of 2017. After assembling the team, “RealSTL News” grew to be the single, most predominantly African-American, independent guerilla news source in Saint Louis. Cam departed “RealSTL News” in the spring of 2021 and continues to bring the community real, relevant news and discussion via “Voice Of The People News”.

source