(BALTIMORE – November 26, 2009) – Maryland Public Television’s Charles Robinson has been reporting the news for decades. He is no stranger to asking the tough question. Nor is he afraid to speak truth to power. Relentless in his professionalism, he has covered everything from the crime and education in Baltimore to the last Democratic National Convention to the inauguration of the nation’s first black president.
Lately, Robinson has been covering the trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.
When asked his thoughts, he replied, “I’m disgusted with the trial.”
He said, “I think a politician’s gotta do better because the youth of the city are watching. They are taking their cues from the adults and to kind of air your dirty laundry in a public forum is sad.”
When asked to elaborate, he stated, “Basically, women are running the city. I’m not suggesting there’s some kid out there watching, listening and saying, I can do this … but without the role modeling, the challenge of being a politician is greater. At the end of the day, you either emulate someone or you blaze a new path. You decide that I can’t be like this man. And isn’t that tragic. The first African American woman mayor is under suspicion. You have to hold yourself to a higher standard. I go back to the Parren Mitchell’s of the world. He knew he had to set a different standard and a higher standard. To understand PJ’s mindset, know that he looked to his brother, Clarence, Sr. He was considered the 101st US Senator because of his lobbying efforts.”
Robinson insists that adults in Baltimore have to do a better job. Even more, political leadership is slipping.
Robinson continued, “Elijah [Cummings] understands the importance of black political power. And that comes from not just emulating people, but finding people of like minds. Cummings came of age during the turbulent 60’s where black power was the new mantra and there was a new political paradigm. He is also in the hotbed of where black political power is being lived and debated: Howard University. He’s there when Stokely Carmichael is there. And those folks who came of age in that era made a conscious decision to not just go along to get along, but to stand up for African Americans without being afraid.”
Filed in: Sheila Dixon.
Doni Morton Glover, the founder and publisher of www.bmorenews.com, has been a journalist for the past 15 years. He is a writer, photographer, and a political analyst for WBAL TV 11. Additionally, he is a local radio personality and host of “Empower Hour” on Radio One’s WOLB 1010 AM. The show is now in its 10th year and is the longest-running customized program on the station.