Experiencing Culture: Facing History — Why Real Stories of Real People Matter in the Public Record, An Evening With Soledad O’Brien
by Isabella Pham
This series features reviews of various cultural events — plays, art galleries, poetry readings, etc. — and interviews with individuals who have a connection with YCP’s campus and/or the city of York, Pennsylvania.
What makes a good news story? Is it an eye-catching headline or a big, juicy scandal? A heartwarming romance or a terrible tragedy? According to Emmy award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien, the answer may be simpler than you think.
On Wednesday, September 12th, O’Brien paid a visit to York College’s Waldner Performing Arts Center to kick off the “York’s Hidden Figures” event, a year-long celebration meant to highlight the accomplishments of influential people of color. Known for her groundbreaking documentary series, “Black in America” and “Latino in America,” she has one thing that truly sets her work apart from the rest: an unwavering dedication to authentic and accurate storytelling. The importance of showcasing multiple perspectives in the media, especially those that are often overlooked, was the main focus of her eye-opening guest lecture.
The event, which began at around 7 PM, was introduced by YCP President Pamela Gunter-Smith and Dr. Dominic DelliCarpini. Preceding the lecture was a high-energy dance routine performed by Mike Smith’s Temple Guard Drill Team, as well as a soulful rendition of “A Change is Gonna Come” played by Andrew Gobel and Eli Weary. These spectacular performances pumped up the crowd, providing a smooth transition for Soledad’s bright, cheerful entrance.
After greeting the audience and expressing how incredibly impressed she was with the performers, O’Brien began to delve into her own past, discussing the large impact that her heritage has had on her life. Born to an Afro-Cuban mother and an Australian father, Soledad and her family became the first members of their ethnic group to ever set foot in the Long Island neighborhood they grew up in. They were keenly aware of this status, and had tried to change their way of life just to blend in. For example, Soledad’s mother suggested that if they didn’t speak Spanish anymore, the community might be more inclined to accept them. But over the years, Soledad learned to embrace her roots, regarding her sociocultural background as one of the key factors that has shaped her identity, her beliefs, and her experiences.
With that idea in mind, as O’Brien developed her reporting career, she made sure to feature members of marginalized groups who had been previously underrepresented in the media due to the fact that no one had reached out to them. For example, during the presentation, she showed a short clip from a CNN documentary called “Beyond Bravery: The Women of 9/11,” in which she interviewed a New York City firefighter named Regina Wilson, who had been on duty during the attack on the Twin Towers. Although the horrific events of 9/11 had been covered time and time again by news networks all across the nation, prior to the documentary, very few people had gotten the opportunity to understand what happened from the perspectives of the many female rescue workers who risked their lives that day.
In order to bring these unexplored, yet invaluable narratives into the light, O’Brien vowed to give people a platform to tell their own stories from their own perspectives, rather than relaying them herself through the detached point of view of an outsider.
“When someone else tells your story through their lens, you shouldn’t be surprised when it lacks nuance,” she explained. “You might not be able to recognize yourself.”
However, the complex, multifaceted nature of the human experience is exactly why Soledad has urged us to advocate for diversity in the media.
“Diversity is a gift, not a burden”, she declared. “Only in diversity is there strength.”
To Soledad O’Brien, the key to a good news story is simple. Searching for new angles, elevating others, and allowing unspoken voices to be heard is a surefire way to develop a more honest and inclusive portrayal.
Isabella Pham is a sophomore majoring in Professional Writing. She is from Harrisburg, PA, and has been interested in visual and literary art for as long as she can remember. Although she has written articles for the website Her Campus, this semester will be her first time working on The York Review. Aside from writing, Isabella also enjoys watching cooking videos, having late-night conversations about life, and playing Pokemon Go around campus (even though it’s not cool anymore).
