AIRING TUESDAY, OCTOBER
29, 2024, AT 10 PM
ET/9 PM CT ON BET
HOSTED BY D.L.
HUGHLEY, A DYNAMIC, IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ADDRESSING ECONOMIC,
SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL TOPICS OF IMPORTANCE TO BLACK MEN
FEATURING MICHAEL EALY, JERMAINE DUPRI, ATTY. BEN CRUMP, DERRICK
JOHNSON, MARC MORIAL, VIC MENSA, REP. STEVEN HORSFORD, REP. JUSTIN J. PEARSON, QUENTIN JAMES, KENNY
BURNS, DR. WES BELLAMY,
KHALIL THOMPSON, CHARLES PHILLIPS
AND MORE
PREVIEW LINK: HERE
NEW
YORK, Oct. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BET
Media Group will premiere the "BET Black Men's Summit,"
hosted by comedian, actor, and radio host D.L. Hughley. Airing
on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at
10 PM ET/9 PM
CT and streaming on BET+, BET.com, and across the BET social
media platforms, this special convenes influential Black men
from an array of industries and backgrounds in-depth conversations
on the critical issues impacting their communities ahead of the
2024 presidential election.
There is a heightened focus on Black men as a crucial
demographic in this presidential election. The "BET Black Men's
Summit invites viewers to reflect on the layered complexities Black
men encounter while also celebrating their contributions and
strength. From persistent economic disparities and the effects of
inflation to reproductive rights and the ongoing fight against
misinformation targeting Black voters, this candid conversation
creates a space for vulnerability and challenges false narratives
in mainstream media.
The summit features prominent guests, including actor
Michael Ealy, award-winning
music producer Jermaine
Dupri, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, NAACP President & CEO
Derrick Johnson, National
Urban League President & CEO Marc Morial, rapper and
philanthropist Vic Mensa, the Honorable Greg Jackson, The Collective PAC Founder and
President Quentin James,
lifestyle specialist and radio host Kenny Burns, Chair, Congressional Black
Caucus and Nevada Representative
Steven Horsford, Tennessee
State Representative Justin J.
Pearson, Virginia State
University Political Science Dept. Chair Dr. Wes Bellamy, author and political
commentator Keith Boykin, Win
With Black Men Executive Director Khalil
Thompson, and CEO and co-founder of The Gathering Spot
Ryan Wilson.
Economic challenges take center stage, with Kenny Burns reflecting on the pandemic's
impact on Black communities in Atlanta and D.L. Hughley recounting his
own experiences with low wages and the inadequacies of the current
minimum wage. Charles
Phillips, co-chair of the Black Economic Alliance,
further highlights the economic disparities exacerbated by the
pandemic and discusses the improvements under President Biden's
leadership.
Congressman Steven
Horsford explores Black men's political engagement,
debunking misleading narratives and championing Vice President
Harris' Economic Opportunity Agenda for Black men. Jermaine Dupri emphasizes the need for
greater political education within the Black community, pointing
out how misinformation continues to suppress Black men's
voices.
Vic Mensa and Kenny
Burns took it to the street with their
"man-on-the-street" segments, which captured real-time perspectives
from Black men in the key battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia. The discussions dive into narratives
and beliefs surrounding immigration, health, reproductive rights,
and the sexism that Black women face in their pursuit of leadership
positions.
In a powerful moment, Vic Mensa addresses the issue of
reproductive rights, stating, "Many men I spoke to felt that
women's reproductive rights were important to them but not their
top priority. However, the fact remains that maternal mortality
rates amongst Black women are exponentially higher in states with
abortion bans." Mensa continues, "As Black men, our primary
responsibility in this humanity is to protect Black women.
Protecting Black women begins and ends with listening to them about
what makes them feel safe….we are seeing the emboldening of the
people who seek to destroy us and to destroy our mothers, sisters,
nieces, and the women in our lives, so I think that it's an issue
of paramount importance to us and to me."
"The lived experiences of Black men in this country carry great
weight, and the urgency for our voices to be heard has never been
more critical," said Scott Mills,
President and CEO of BET Media Group. "The 'BET Black Men's Summit'
is more than a conversation—it is a call to action for us to come
together, share our truths, and confront the issues that shape not
only our communities but the very future of this nation. In a time
when our perspectives are often overlooked or misrepresented, this
summit creates a powerful space for us to speak boldly, listen
deeply, and ignite change. It is a reminder that our stories, our
struggles, and our triumphs are central to the progress of this
country."
"BET Black Men's Summit" underscores the BET
commitment to provide a platform for Black men to reclaim their
voices, challenge misinformation, and engage in a political process
that directly impacts their futures. Through these intimate and
honest conversations, the summit not only informs, but inspires
action, encouraging Black men to vote and to make their voices
heard in the 2024 election.
"According to our Black Male Voter Study conducted by BET
Consumer Insights, 89% of Black men we spoke with intend to vote,
but we cannot overlook the unrepresented 11% whose voices we risk
losing," said Tiyale Hayes,
Executive Vice President, Multiplatform Analytics and Insights and
Co-lead of Social Impact at BET. "Nearly 20% of Black men feel
ignored in the political process, and the 'BET Black Men's Summit'
is an opportunity to address these concerns and ensure Black men
feel heard as part of the broader movement toward civic engagement
and change."
Executive produced by Connie
Orlando, Jason
Samuels, and Erik
Parker, with senior supervising producer Steven Ramey, this news special furthers the
BET "We VOTE" campaign to increase civic engagement and
voter participation within the Black community.
About 'We VOTE'
BET Media Group initiative 'We VOTE'
embodies the company's steadfast commitment to empowering Black
voters and amplifying their voices in all upcoming elections to
harness the power of collective action and drive meaningful change.
The campaign is a testament to ongoing efforts by BET to ignite
unprecedented civic engagement, voter registration, and turnout
among Black voters. By equipping communities with knowledge about
their voting rights and combating misinformation, BET Media Group
aims to create a lasting impact that extends far beyond Election
Day.
ABOUT BET
The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount
(NASDAQ: PARAA; PARA), is the world's largest media company
dedicated to entertaining, engaging, and empowering the Black
community and championing Black culture. Connecting Black audiences
through a portfolio of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET
HER, BET International, BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1,
the BET Media Group is a thriving media ecosystem of leading
interconnected platforms across cable TV, streaming, digital,
studios, live events and international. For more information about
BET, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social
platforms. For more BET news announcements, visit
betpressroom.com.
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SOURCE Viacom International Inc.