By Renada Toyer
“What’s the difference between Black-owned and Black-targeted?” A question that many may struggle to answer still is so simple. We must change the face of the tabloids as we are constantly attacked due to the color of our skin. Which is why the Westside Gazette is such a movement in the community.
Meeting Mr. Bobby Henry was nothing short of a blessing—an experience that left a lasting impression on me both personally and professionally. Sitting across from a man who is so deeply rooted in truth, legacy, and Black excellence felt like a moment of pure alignment. He did not view me just as your average high school student but as a young lady with the aspiration to change the face of Black youth in Journalism. He truly took the time to get to know my goals, my heart, my values, and my spirit. He challenged my mind, posing questions that made me reflect and think of things on a more intense level.
This experience reminded me how vital it is for us as Black people to stand together, especially in the media atmosphere where our voices and opinions are overlooked or misrepresented. Mr. Henry shined a powerful light on the responsibility we carry to rewrite our story. His sense of humor and warmhearted nature made our conversation flow with such ease and comfort; his view on my passions ignited something deeper in me.
I’m truly grateful for the encounter, and I cannot wait to begin working with him and contributing to this lifelong legacy that his family has built.