STAKE plans to shine a light on the upcoming presidential election with what it hopes will be a series of primetime election specials.
The first of these specials, “What's At Stake: 2024 Election Special,” debuts June 4 at 10 p.m. on BET, BET Her and VH1.
The special is hosted by BET correspondent Ed Gordon and features a roundtable discussion with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), all members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
“I think it's obviously an interesting time for the country,” Gordon says The Hollywood Reporter in an interview. “Not just for the black electorate, but for all of us, this issue of democracy and where we stand, and that's why BET felt it was doubly important to make sure that we were leading the way and especially giving the black viewer what they needed to think about think to participate in this very important political time.”
Gordon says the special will focus on issues important to Black voters, including the state of the economy and gun violence, among others.
“I mean, [Democratic strategist James] Carville hit it best when he said, “It's the economy, dumbass,” and that always seems to be true. Unfortunately, as we always say, African Americans are always on the bottom rung,” Gordon said. “So that is very important for African Americans. We've been looking at the idea of the ongoing gun violence that's plaguing urban areas, and that's too common for many African American communities, and we could dive into the Biden administration and its history in the sense that they want to suggest that they have done quite a bit. a little bit for the African American community, and it's no secret that there's some skepticism among a lot of black voters, or some black voters, I should say.
“We think this was one of those times where these representatives – I've known two of the three for a long time, discussed them for a while – I think they were very candid and perhaps a little less guarded than normal, this is going to around,” Gordon added.
He also acknowledged that while the three representatives in the special are all Democrats, he would also like to host Republicans.
“Some people will say these are three Democrats, and that's always been the case. I've found it's very difficult to get Republicans to come through African-American media, black or not,” Gordon says. “And so we're not trying to not give a voice or an opportunity to the Republicans and the Republican Party, it's just what they accept at that moment.”
Coverage also weighs heavily for Gordon. As a veteran journalist (he has been an off-and-on host and correspondent for BET since 1988, and has also worked for NBC News, CBS News and NPR), Gordon says, “I can say without a doubt – and I think it's a feeling that many people have – that the time we are in now in this election is one that will shape this country, good or bad, for the next generation or two.
“If Donald Trump wins the idea of what he's telegraphing, we see the idea of a Supreme Court that will be unabashedly conservative, we see the idea that it's okay to use some of the tactics that his administration used and that he continues to tout, ” says Gordon. “And I think it's a reckoning for the Democrats. It's a time where I think a lot of African Americans are saying, “Yeah, you know, it's not enough to just come to a church and sing along with us to a gospel hymn that you might know or that your counselors might teach you.” told about'. You know, in the case of Obama or even Clinton, they probably knew about it, and to a lesser extent Joe Biden, but African Americans are saying it has to be a bigger solution than we've ever seen if you want to continue to rely on our votes .
“You can't just know, [say] the rising tide lifts all boats. Well, there are a lot of people in the African American community who are still waiting for their boat to rise,” Gordon added. “And I think they see the idea that if the land does indeed move in one direction, those boats could get stuck in the silt and underwater.”