MY REFLECTION ON EXPERIENCING GIL NOBLE’S IMPACT
Written by Nailah El

Gil Noble’s program “Like It Is” has played a role in the history of my family, and an early part of my upbringing. My father lived through the riots in the central ward in Newark, NJ and had his first glimpse of what was to come in Gil Noble’s career as a journalist in documenting the African and American experience. Once my father began religiously watching “Like It Is,” he passed this ritual onto me. I remember being about 8 yrs. old and trying very hard to get up before my parents got up on Saturday & Sunday mornings. I knew that if I didn’t get up before them, I wouldn’t be able to watch cartoons. It never worked. I would be up first and run to the TV and feel some kind of victory, shortly after that my dad would get up and come downstairs and just turn the channel to ABC. I would then spend weekend mornings watching “Like It Is” and “Eyes On the Prize.” At first I used to feel disappointed because I didn’t understand the importance of watching both of those shows. It only took a short while for my understanding of the impact of both of these shows to permeate my soul and connect me with my ancestors who had participated in the fight for Civil Rights and it started me on my journey for knowledge of self. Watching “Like It Is” and “Eye’s on the Prize” every week also gave me a chance to bond with my dad and ask him questions about his participation in the Civil Rights movement, and his participation in the Black Panther Organization.

I will never forget the time that I was with my parents at a Phi Beta Sigma Conference with my Dad at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC. I grabbed my dad’s arm and said “look dad, its Gil Noble–over there!” I asked my dad if we could go say “hi.” So he took my hand and we ran up the steps and followed behind Mr. Noble until we caught up with him. My dad tapped him, said hello and shook his hand. Then he explained to him, that I wanted to meet him. I was so nervous, I had a hard time finding my words. Finally, I extended my hand, shook his hand and managed to tell him that “I watched Like It Is every week with my dad and that I loved the show.” That was truly a moment in my childhood I will never forget, that will stay with me as a very vivid memory. At one time I became very interested in becoming a political journalist. I gave it a shot by working on the Julianne Malveaux Show on WPFW in Washington, D.C. During this time, I had a chance to cover the Million Man March and cover many issues facing the oppressed Africans and Americans in their prospective communities. After that experience, I felt like I needed to focus my energy towards educating children. I became a teacher. That seemed like the best way to help build up our communities for the future. Now, more than ever, I see the impact that Gil Noble had on my life, my journey, my path and my destiny. As we pray for his speedy recovery and return to his “Like It Is,” I am reminded that we all have a responsibility to ourselves and our children to become educated about who we are, respect the path our ancestors have created and plotted out for us, take their cues, build ourselves up physically emotionally, and spiritually so we can become whole, balanced individuals ready to properly bring light to those of us who are shrouded in the darkness of their own anger, sadness, and the generational curse of being separated from knowledge and respect of oneself.