Black media, progressive Black media, took another blow recently with the death of Joe “The Black Eagle” Madison. Joe’s conviction and commitment to the struggle for total liberation and the end of apartheid America was as resonant and consistent as his powerful voice. Whether behind the mic, which was an extension of the ramparts where he planted his feet and voiced his advocacy for the oppressed and marginalized, or in the boardrooms, Joe never wavered in speaking truth to power.
He was only 24 and fresh from the corridors of Washington University in St. Louis when he arrived in Detroit and immediately found his niche with the growing activist community, mainly as the branch leader of the NAACP. Without missing a beat he was soon on the air at WXYZ-AM refining the apprenticeship that began in college when he wasn’t a fearless running back on the gridiron or active in several campus groups.
From the halls of Wayne State University to the frontline of marches and demonstrations at the various auto plants, to the pulpits of numerous churches where his smooth articulation convinced many to join him in the fight against racism and discrimination. But Detroit was just the seedbed of his broadcast and leadership career, and both expanded with considerable speech and effectiveness once he had a platform at SiriusXM and renamed himself “The Black Eagle.”
The nation’s capital put him closer to the world of politicians, all of whom took notice of the issues he discussed, the notables he interviewed, and the growing constituency that rallied to his persuasion. After marching at the Sudanese Embassy or demanding reparations, Joe could present the complexities of these issues to h