A week ago Wednesday, April Ryan, Washington bureau chief of American Urban Radio Networks and CNN political analyst, held a conversation on politics, race relations and motherhood with The Metro-Manhattan Chapter of The Links and others at Mist Harlem.
Ryan, no stranger to controversy, has been a journalist for more than 20 years, the terms of three presidents. During her coverage major new stories, she has made headlines. A recent incident was an exchange with Press Secretary Sean Spicer over shaking her head. Because of this act, Ryan faced criticism on social media.
Ryan took her journalistic expertise on politics and race, life lessons and channeled it into her latest book, “At Mama’s Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White,” which explores race and race relations through the lessons that mothers give to their children.
“We are a nation that is still hypersensitive when it comes issues of race, on Jan. 20 we saw a big difference,” she said “The bop was gone.” She was referring to some of the differences between the Obama administration and the Trump administration.
She discussed issues that members of the audience currently face, issues that are directly affected by the presidency, such as health care and funding for HBCUs.
One of her most relatable moments was sharing her personal accounts of the Freddie Gray verdict and how it affected her and her home city of Baltimore.
“I never saw helicopters, and gun drawn where I lived, just to make sure it doesn’t spill over,” Ryan said.”
She also shared a story of having to explain to her 9-year-old daughter what the Confederate flag means and who she turned to for help.
“I enlisted the help of icons that kind of let me know I was doing OK,” she said. “I talked to the great Harry Belafonte. Oh my gosh, you won’t believe his story! Rep. John Lewis, former President Barrack Hussein Obama, Hillary Clinton, Jim Carter, Loni Love, I talked to a lot of different people.”
Tamika D. Mallory, co-chair of the Women’s March on Washington and CEO of Mallory Consulting, moderated the discussion.
Ryan also wrote “The Presidency in Black and White: My Up-Close View of Three Presidents and Race in America,” which offers an insightful look at race relations in contemporary America from the White House.