In my own words.
I was born in the in Decatur Illinois in 1956. I am the last of 11 children of Willie and Carolyn Wade. Lasting memories of my Midwestern upbringing were that my parents never talked about racism. While I am sure they experienced it, they never came home downcast and dispirited from dealing with it in my presence. We were never told what our limitations were.
I distinctly remember my grandmother and me discussing Alex Haley’s mini-series “Roots”. I remember her encouraging me not to dismiss earlier injustices that earlier generations may have endured. But, she said, not to dwell on them either. She said,” Take the ball and run with it as far as you can. That would be payback enough.”
I was the first in the family to go to college. I was blessed to be a part of the generation that the “dollars fell on” in terms of the boundless opportunities available to the “prepared.” After 2 years at Junior College, I finished at Morehouse College in Atlanta Georgia. It was there the professors would point to Mayor Maynard Jackson and encourage us to conduct ourselves like Maynard. Whenever Maynard stepped before the press, his positions were always grounded in either facts and/or the law. The professors admonished us that we will never get knocked off center if we do that.
The week of graduation Min. Farrakhan spoke at our baccalaureate. He told us there was no unemployment problem in the black community, but there was an attitude problem in the black community – the attitude that you have to receive top dollar before you’ll work for anyone. He said in that case there may not be any work for you, but there is still plenty of work to be done. I joined the Nation of Islam that weekend in May of 1979.
I spent years in the Nation of Islam dining at the banquet table of hate. I spent years trying to prove Jesus was not the “Christ!” Islam appealed to me in my youth. But I found as you get older and the storms of life get to beating on your door, you’ll be looking for grace and mercy when that happens. And those virtues simply are not found in Islam.
I renounced Islam and rededicated my life to Christ. I also returned home to conservatism. This was during the end of the Reagan era. I remember an editorial in the Atlanta Journal Constitution about Reagan. It noted that President Reagan didn’t stop someone from going to college or having babies. He merely tried to open the doors of opportunity and said, “Let those who will, come.” I realized black people would not partake because they wanted to hear Reagan say here’s the “black door.” President Reagan would not do it. That principled stand moved me to learn more about Ronald Reagan.
After studying Reagan, I changed into a Paul Revere for conservatism. I remember telling my daughters I’d rather they return home from college crack heads than a democrat! Besides, I told them, I’ve seen people kick the crack habit. So convinced was I of the superiority of the conservative viewpoint, I started calling talk radio shows. I eventually got invited to sit in as a co-host.
Subsequently, I started badgering Charles Evers station manager at WMPR 90.1 fm (100k watts) in Jackson, Mississippi about the need for a conservative radio show. After a year he relented provided I could pay the $150.00 per show. I was on the air for 7 years and paid over $28,000 out of my pocket. I eventually got picked up by WJNT News Talk 1180 am (50k watts) station in Jackson. I have been at WJNT going into the 9th year.
My audience is about 60/40 white/black split. The blacks grudgingly accept the correctness of what I say though they may not like the bluntness of it. Some whites are vindicated by what I say. I am unapologetic about my views. I have the ability to turn a phrase. So I keep my audience listening for the memorable zingers. Because I am able to intersperse humor with knowledge of the subject matter it keeps them listening for that next zinger. People will often ask, “Where do you come up with this stuff?” I did comedy on occasion at a club I owned some years back.
I have recently had the opportunity to sit in for Matt Friedeman on the Matt Friedeman Show on the American Family Radio Talk Network heard on over 150 stations throughout the country. For 2 and ½ hours each day for a week, I enjoyed lively give and take from callers to the show. Matt also calls on me to guest host from time to time. I hosted an hour long, interim program on AFR Talk, The Kim Wade Show, for several weeks following my time on Matt’s show.
In the end though, my world view was shaped and the guardrails formed by what I learned at the dinner table as I grew up. I can speak with certitude that comes across in my delivery because I know my parents had my best interest at heart.
“Let’s turn some caps around!”
Kim Wade
I distinctly remember my grandmother and me discussing Alex Haley’s mini-series “Roots”. I remember her encouraging me not to dismiss earlier injustices that earlier generations may have endured. But, she said, not to dwell on them either. She said,” Take the ball and run with it as far as you can. That would be payback enough.”
I was the first in the family to go to college. I was blessed to be a part of the generation that the “dollars fell on” in terms of the boundless opportunities available to the “prepared.” After 2 years at Junior College, I finished at Morehouse College in Atlanta Georgia. It was there the professors would point to Mayor Maynard Jackson and encourage us to conduct ourselves like Maynard. Whenever Maynard stepped before the press, his positions were always grounded in either facts and/or the law. The professors admonished us that we will never get knocked off center if we do that.
The week of graduation Min. Farrakhan spoke at our baccalaureate. He told us there was no unemployment problem in the black community, but there was an attitude problem in the black community – the attitude that you have to receive top dollar before you’ll work for anyone. He said in that case there may not be any work for you, but there is still plenty of work to be done. I joined the Nation of Islam that weekend in May of 1979.
I spent years in the Nation of Islam dining at the banquet table of hate. I spent years trying to prove Jesus was not the “Christ!” Islam appealed to me in my youth. But I found as you get older and the storms of life get to beating on your door, you’ll be looking for grace and mercy when that happens. And those virtues simply are not found in Islam.
I renounced Islam and rededicated my life to Christ. I also returned home to conservatism. This was during the end of the Reagan era. I remember an editorial in the Atlanta Journal Constitution about Reagan. It noted that President Reagan didn’t stop someone from going to college or having babies. He merely tried to open the doors of opportunity and said, “Let those who will, come.” I realized black people would not partake because they wanted to hear Reagan say here’s the “black door.” President Reagan would not do it. That principled stand moved me to learn more about Ronald Reagan.
After studying Reagan, I changed into a Paul Revere for conservatism. I remember telling my daughters I’d rather they return home from college crack heads than a democrat! Besides, I told them, I’ve seen people kick the crack habit. So convinced was I of the superiority of the conservative viewpoint, I started calling talk radio shows. I eventually got invited to sit in as a co-host.
Subsequently, I started badgering Charles Evers station manager at WMPR 90.1 fm (100k watts) in Jackson, Mississippi about the need for a conservative radio show. After a year he relented provided I could pay the $150.00 per show. I was on the air for 7 years and paid over $28,000 out of my pocket. I eventually got picked up by WJNT News Talk 1180 am (50k watts) station in Jackson. I have been at WJNT going into the 9th year.
My audience is about 60/40 white/black split. The blacks grudgingly accept the correctness of what I say though they may not like the bluntness of it. Some whites are vindicated by what I say. I am unapologetic about my views. I have the ability to turn a phrase. So I keep my audience listening for the memorable zingers. Because I am able to intersperse humor with knowledge of the subject matter it keeps them listening for that next zinger. People will often ask, “Where do you come up with this stuff?” I did comedy on occasion at a club I owned some years back.
I have recently had the opportunity to sit in for Matt Friedeman on the Matt Friedeman Show on the American Family Radio Talk Network heard on over 150 stations throughout the country. For 2 and ½ hours each day for a week, I enjoyed lively give and take from callers to the show. Matt also calls on me to guest host from time to time. I hosted an hour long, interim program on AFR Talk, The Kim Wade Show, for several weeks following my time on Matt’s show.
In the end though, my world view was shaped and the guardrails formed by what I learned at the dinner table as I grew up. I can speak with certitude that comes across in my delivery because I know my parents had my best interest at heart.
“Let’s turn some caps around!”
Kim Wade