ALL HANDS ON DECK to raise $100K for Independent Journalism: Black by God rallies after USDA grant cut

By Aaliyah Jones

It started with a rejection, and it ended with our community coming together for 24 hours. 

In late March, Black by God: The West Virginian’s founder and publisher, Crystal Good, received an email stating that the outlet would be losing $350,000 in funding. It was a cut to independent journalism and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s support of Black farming in West Virginia.

The funding was central to Black By God’s agriCULTURE coverage and one of few federal efforts directly addressing structural inequities in agriculture. This news was devastating, but it planted the seeds for an out-of-the box idea to blossom.

The Black by God 24-hour podcast and livestream fundraiser was born, as our community rallied to save Black independent journalism in West Virginia. This massive effort to share important information with our community was the driving force to promote our goal of raising $100,000. 

Our setting for the weekend was a houseboat and Airbnb sponsored by retired Charleston police officer David Payne, with Charleston Riverfront Watersports. Kicking off our 24  hours of content for the cause was Traci Phillips, Black By God’s director of development. 

Traci began with an opening monologue for our reason behind the livestream as she stood on the Kanawha County Courthouse steps. Members of the community walked by, participating in “Stroll To The Polls” and casting their early votes for West Virginia’s May 12th Primary Election.

The Black By God crew then boarded Captain Payne’s boat for a conversation with Dr. Shanequa Smith, a restorative practitioner, Jessica Martin, radio host with 107.3 The Beat, and Kim Felix, a community supporter. 

They talked about Black By God’s mission, goals and where the hosts would take us throughout the day. With their arrival, our audience also learned of the giveaway we would be hosting for the next 24 hours: free tickets to WoodyFest every hour. 

This festival, created by Woody Woods, a well-known local radio show host and DJ in the Charleston area, is set for Sat., Aug. 1, at the Shawnee Sports Complex in Dunbar.  

Presented by A to Z Outlet and Salango Law, the concert will feature local and national talents. Artists will include DaBaby, Waka Flocka Flame and Ying Yang Twins, among many other local talents.  Any person who donated to our GoFundMe page was entered into a drawing for a chance to win a pair of tickets. If you didn’t win tickets through Black By God, visit WoodyFestWV.com to purchase yours.

What Does Community-Led Independent Journalism Look Like? 

From politics and community voices to youth topics, black business and farming, the Black By God stream gained traction by the hour. After eight hours of streaming, our next location, Cam’s Selfie World in Charleston, brought the audience out in person. 

During Leeshia Lee and Myles T’s segment, the team went live with local talent at Cam’s World. This changed the momentum of the podcast, bringing live performances from the stage to the community. Local musicians included: Big TC, Neenee Incognita, Prince Phae, and many other talented acts. During the high-energy cipher, Cam’s World owner Yvonne Lee was so moved and appreciative of the community coming together that she donated $500 to the cause. 

Networking, performances and appreciation filled the room and reenergized the evening crew to persist. Through the night shift of the 24-hour cast, there was coverage from several hosts to continue the fundraising efforts. West Virginia basketball star Justin Phillips came on to talk about BBG Sports, with a few guests, including his son Justin, a basketball star himself. Thee Nyshyne, Jette Grey and Kayleigh Steele gave their stances on LGBTQ+ issues and culture. Myles T took over next, creating a song live on the houseboat with special guests Kazi and B!LLY. 

Katonya Hart was up early during the 4 to 5 a.m. slot to talk about personal journeys and scripture. Olubunmi “Bunmi” Kusimo-Frazier arose with the sunset, ensuring the audience was centered with yoga and breathwork. Sonya Hairston and Tiara Brown gave the live cast a glimpse of gospel for the Sunday morning viewers. Our community received fitness and wellness tips from Coach Heather Kaye Robinson, and before we wrapped up, our Black by God Ghana team joined to share a piece of their daily lives. 

The power of community support
To wrap the Black by God telethon podcast and thank everyone involved, Crystal Good and Aaliyah Jones led a group discussion on the front lawn. Captain Payne cheered the team with champagne and a celebratory boat ride. The dedication of each host, guest and viewer was unmatched. With each donation, in just 24  hours, the community alone raised almost $7,000 for independent journalism — substantial love and support to launch our $100,000 community fundraiser!

Thank you to our livestream sponsors, including, as noted, Charleston Riverfront Watersports, Lewisburg Surf Shop, WoodyFest, Mear Mae’s Meadow, Cam’s Selfie World, Most High and Black Women of West Virginia, the River Camp at Mango-ase, Fun Fitness Kids Club and New WV.

Thank you to all of the GoFundMe donors, our hosts, their guests, the behind-the-scenes volunteers, the Black By God crew and everyone who tuned in and turned out.

We are so grateful for all your support. If you are interested, you can donate now to sustain and grow Black-led independent journalism in West Virginia. We encourage everyone to tune in to our upcoming livestreams and be a part of the conversation.