My adoration for Soledad O’Brien began when she was on CNN in the early 2000’s, at a time when seeing another biracial person on television was both emboldening and refreshing. We haven’t come all that far since then, a point which O’Brien continues to drive home, in necessary and potent form. Many of the problematic news stories today are such because of the way in which they are framed – for ratings or political correctness or plain and simple weakness of people who are afraid to call out injustice and social ills in blunt and accurate terms.
O’Brien consistently challenges reporters, and viewers, to do better, and she can back up her criticism as a veteran in the news field. Unfettered by the restraints and internal machinations of a behemoth like CNN, O’Brien has earned this Dazzler of the Day for her ongoing influence and voice for intelligence, truth, and calling out racism and hate as they are. She continues to make a powerful impact in the news world, helming her own documentary production company that is currently putting out the ‘Disrupt and Dismantle’ series on BET.
Her Twitter feed alone is enough to dazzle and delight (I will always appreciate people in powerful positions taking risks that unabashedly speak out against social injustice, no matter how polarizing or unpopular that may be) and if you ever hear that she’ll be appearing on a news segment somewhere, make that appointment to watch.
