Chatham Life & Style

This is not a time for empty words. This is a time for immediate action.

Journalists and editors continue to twist the experience of black Americans to fit their own pre-programmed narrative: “selective” editing of events and statements, favoring white stories over others, and actively printing and speaking lies about black lives. We are seeing this at both the national and local level every day in the way #BlackLivesMatter protests are re-framed to comfort and reassure the powerful, white, socio-political establishment. 

It is the responsibility of all press to hold both ourselves and each other accountable for promoting the truth and nothing but the truth. To do otherwise is reprehensible and unacceptable. We cannot hold law enforcement accountable for their actions if we are unwilling to show what is actually happening.

There are many steps to be taken. And we are centuries behind. Political, legal, and corporate structures must be dismantled and replaced without straight, white, cisgender men at the drawing board. One immediate step is to ensure that black voices are telling black stories. We at Chatham Life & Style have not done enough to amplify these voices. Whether sending only white writers to review the work of black artists, or neglecting to seek out opportunities to engage with black arts and cultural leaders, we have contributed to the apathetic atmosphere in which most media operate. 

If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got. We want to reaffirm and fortify our commitment to a diverse staff by taking immediate action to expand our team.

We have created new paid positions for both guest and regular contributing writers that wish to provide any lifestyle or cultural material. All are invited to submit proposals. We are prioritizing the words and art of black creators in North Carolina for immediate publication. 

We seek editorial, interviews, event reporting, critique, photography, video, poetry, etc, from new and/or experienced creators. We are open to any and all ideas for new content and value the input of kids, students, writing teams, and families of writers.

If you are interested in a collaboration, please email chathamlifeandstyle@gmail.com, or message us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share your thoughts and ideas with us. You may also use the Contact Us box  below or click the chat button on your screen.

If you work with a black-owned business or organization, please share that information with us so that we may offer you free advertising space on our site.

We also seek dialogue with the community on how our publication can better serve and amplify black voices. Please send us an email or message us via any of the methods above. This is only the first step of many, and this cannot be a stop-gap or a goodwill gesture. This is not a band-aid. We will continue to revise practices and restructure our organization as often as necessary to ensure that we are meeting our commitment to amplifying black voices in North Carolina. 

We challenge all other lifestyle and news publications, whether in print or online, to look carefully at their hiring/assignment practices and develop a plan to ensure that black voices are included in every edition under every section. 

How can you help?

• Hold local press publicly accountable for the lack of black voices in their staff and lack of black stories in their coverage.

• Read and share press coverage that is truthful, meaningful, and seeks to lift up black lives. 

• Shop at black-owned local businesses whenever possible.

• Participate actively in the anti-racism movement. You can find clear, easy ways to help in this document.

• Send us links to streaming arts events organized by black artists.

• Send us information about black-owned businesses that we can help promote on our website.

• Join Chatham Life & Style in making a donation to Emancipate NC’s Freedom Fighter Bond Fund at emancipatenc.org/freedom-fighter-bond-fund

#BlackLivesMatter #BlackTransLivesMatter

Sincerely,

The Staff of Chatham Life & Style