Make Our Radio Matter

I wrote our end of year letter from KKCR to our registered fans based on some things I was thinking about regarding our language. Hereʻs the highlighted text: Our time MATTERS. Community MATTERS. What we talk about MATTERS and how we talk to each other MATTERS. Our stories MATTER. Connections MATTER. Culture MATTERS. People MATTER. Amplifying the voiceless MATTERS. 

It started while talking to some helpful folks about what a gem KKCR is. We have this tool that influences people and that in itself is a responsibility of the highest order. While it sounds insidious, radio enters your life, your home, your car, and gets inside your brain, and hopefully plays a positive role in how you see your world. We use this power for both good and evil, in overt and subtle ways.

Couple that with an episode of me trying to explain to someone in what way our words matter. My conversant made the point – that I hear so often –  that the current collective mindset is too sensitive and should lighten up about being offended about what it considers racist/sexist/etc language. This point of view gives the speaker permission to belittle others based on their own arbitrary standards. And then they get put down twice: once for the infraction and once for telling them their “too sensitive”. It’s a spineless conversation ender.

I want to make changes in our world. I want KKCR to be leaders in how we say things to make those changes. IF we say that our words MATTER, and the words we use carry great importance, and we have the platform to influence language – then we can be that change.

What kind of world do I want to see? 

Is it a world where racial distinctions are respected and celebrated? Then remove even the gentlest of slurs. Use words of respect and learn with curiosity. 

Is it a world where women are unafraid, are workplace peers, are beings unto themselves and not sexualized? Remove sexual and belittling language from your speech. 

Is it a world without violence? Remove words and concepts from your speech. “Shoot me an email”. “Tackle that issue”.  

I’ll repeat it: I want KKCR to be leaders in changing how we use our words, in how we talk to each other, in our topics of discussion.

Stay tuned. We’re right here changing the world.