By Tarice L.S. Gray
In the past few years, Roland S. Martin has emerged as political pundit, celebrated media personality and civic leader. He is a CNN Senior analyst, program host of TV One’s “Washington Watch with Roland Martin” as well as network commentator, syndicated columnist and author of three books: “Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives of Faith”, “Speak, Brother! A Black Man’s View of America” and “The First: President Barack Obama’s Road to the White House as originally reported by Roland S. Martin”.
The award winning journalist no doubt maintains a busy schedule, juggling a bustling career and preparing for an even brighter future. Recently he took a moment to speak to us about the national media, and his blossoming role in it.
Congratulations on your show Washington Watch with Roland Martin. It’s a political watchdog show, is it not?
To some degree. We speak to issues that are of importance African-Americans. Our goal is to feature African-Americans in the administration, in Congress, experts, political journalists, political consultants, things along those lines. We’re also broad. So for instance on a recent show we had Charlie Wilson talking about prostate cancer, but also talking about his career. Kirk Whalum was on the show talking about what he was doing with education with the Stax Museum. So we try to definitely mix it up, but we certainly represent the perspective of African-Americans and want to present that in everything that we do.
But your niche is politics?
I say it’s the primary. There are three distinct areas that I tend to focus on: politics is one, and I would say faith issues are second and social/cultural issues third.
Black politicians have had it rough in the past couple of years. Why do think that it’s important to have a journalist of color interviewing and commenting on these stories and other issues relevant to people of color?
I think first and foremost you need journalists of color speaking to issues whether they are black politicians or not. The fact of the matter is that we vote. We are involved in the process and therefore our voices deserve to be heard. When you read Cynthia Tucker [of the Atlanta Journal Constitution], Dewayne Wickham [of USA Today], we are presenting points of view that others may very well ignore.
I remember right before the inauguration there was a meeting of various columnists; Derrick Jackson of the Boston Globe was there, Dewayne Wickham was there and I was there, we were the only three, and I think Eugene Robinson was at this one as well. One of us raised the point of HBCUs. The reality is that it would not have come up if we were not in the room. So I think that is important. But also I think we talk about what happens with black politicians. I mean a lot of us have unique perspectives because we have been covering them versus other folks may have just heard about them so they can only speak to the issues on periphery. So I think it’s important again for the folks who have been there to be able to comment on the issues taking place.
You had an opportunity to interview President Barack Obama and you also put out a book. How did your interview evolve into a book?
I decided to do the book because one, it was really a compilation of the election coverage. There were all the columns and blog items and things along those lines that I actually wrote during the campaign and so it allows for you to track it from day one up through the inauguration. And we included my interviews with him as well as Michelle Obama during the campaign. Then we got a number of different pages of photos as well, and so it really was a compilation. That’s why we refer to it ‘as originally reported by Roland S. Martin.’ From day one, I wanted to do second volume of my first book “Brother Speak! A Black Man’s View of America”. Once we realized [we had enough] pieces for this book, we decided to go ahead put this out.
You’ve written about faith issues as well.
I’ve utilized my platform as a syndicated columnist, writing pieces for CNN.com and then on the radio and television, to speak to faith issues from a contemporary perspective. Faith being one of the things that has been important to me. It plays such a critical role in the lives of so many people. I receive e-mails from people all across the world who have read pieces , which have touched them in a unique way.
How difficult is it to infuse your faith as a journalist even in the political world where faith and politics don’t marry or mesh except when you have extreme points of view? How does faith fit in?
I would actually say they marry a lot. What happens though is that people often times ignore the faith component when it’s always there and I always make a point that’s what you cannot do. It is not hard if that is the essence of who you are. I view it as the essence of who I am, so it is a part of all that I do. So that’s why it is critically important to me. I don’t see it as a struggle as some folks might see it because I’m not afraid to actually do it. Again that’s what often happens to some people who are afraid to say something whereas I’m not.
Most recently the National Day of Prayer was recognized by President Barack Obama despite a federal court judge declaring it unconstitutional. Atheists groups filed a lawsuit hoping to permanently banish the National Day of Prayer from our existence. As a mainstream journalist and man of faith how do cover such issues impartially?
First of all, I am a journalist, but we all wear different hats so as a commentator, I can be subjective and I can have a point of view. I can communicate in that way and so it’s not an issue for me to be able to do so. What is important to me is the ability to be able to be open and honest as it relates to what I am always going to do. So it’s about being true to yourself and honest with yourself.
You are a man of faith and walked faithfully through a lot of doors of opportunity, do you think you might have a political calling? Will we one day be addressing you as Congressman Roland S. Martin?
No, no, because I sign all of my books the same: ‘continuing to do God’s will.’ And I believe that everybody operates in their own divine good. And for me God has placed me exactly where I am. I know exactly what I’m doing, I know how I’m utilizing his gifts.
So what’s next?
We’re certainly moving forward in terms of having a five-day-a-week show. That’s what the goal is whether it’s on TV One, CNN or somewhere else. That’s really what the focus is. I also launched a media company called NU Vision Media Inc. We’re looking at different projects and we’re focusing on other shows and those are the things that I am focusing on. Also, I’m continuing to build a brand pure and simple.
