Portland’s cultural diversity finds home at 90.7 FM

By Paula Small
The Portland Upside
July 2009

Jamilah Bourdon uses her KBOO radio show “Guess Who’s Coming to Radio?” to touch Portland’s Black community with music and public affairs. (Photo provided by Jamilah Bourdon)

Nestled in the intersection at SE 8th and Burnside, KBOO, Portland’s only community radio station, is one of the oldest in the nation.

In 1949, community radio began in Berkeley, California, on the dual platform of non-commercialism and listener-support. It took another fifteen years for a group in Portland to plant the seeds that in 1968 would officially become KBOO.

KBOO provides a home to those in the community who want programming outside the mainstream. A walk through KBOO’s front door leads to a diverse staff and volunteer base, people who belong to the misrepresented and underserved populations of our community. Some of KBOO’s listeners are also members, people who support the station by donating as well as listening.

KBOO’s strength is in the number of its volunteers. All of KBOO’s on-air hosts and most of the behind-the-scenes production team members are volunteers. The volunteers range from the out-of-work to the retired and everyone in between. The one goal everyone shares is a commitment to quality programming for the community.

KBOO’s diverse programming blurs traditional lines. “The Other Team” is a queer-youth produced show helping “the community learn about issues that queer youth face.” “The Underground” is another youth production offering views from the community’s youth on a variety of topics.

There are musical shows such as “Africa O-Ye!” and “Jamaica Nice” providing music from the African continent & the Caribbean. “Jazz in the Afternoon” and “Music from the True Vine” showcase all slices of Americana including jazz, country and folk music. “Mujeres Bravas,” “Islamic Point of View” and “Portland Yiddish Hour” offer music and information from Portland’s Latino, Islamic and Jewish communities. Other musical programs that challenge the mainstream include “Drinking from Puddles,” “CrossFade” and “The Melting Pot,” present world music from electronica to rock-and-roll and everything in between.

In addition to musical programming, there are daily news and public affairs shows dealing with local as well as international issues. Shows such as “Democracy Now!” and the “Evening News” offer timely news coverage, often addressing controversial situations.

One program, “Guess Who’s Coming to Radio?” hosted by Jamilah Bourdon, combines relevant public affairs programming with music, all relevant to the Black community. Recently, she spotlighted various Black-owned barbershops in Portland. To complement the interviews, she offered a mix of soulful music.

I had an opportunity to catch up with Jamilah about her show.

Q: What brought you to KBOO and how long have you been here?

A: I moved from NY and wanted to still listen to community radio. I listed to college radio in Bellingham, but that still wasn’t full-service community radio. I used to listen to KBOO while working a graveyard shift. I called into the “Abe and Joe” show but didn’t get through. Went to the station and they put me on the air [to make my comment]. I began volunteering and joined as a member during the membership drive in 2005.

Q: Why did you create your show “Guess Who’s Coming to Radio?”

A: Everyone told me I should be on the radio. When the Wednesday, 7 to 9 [pm] slot opened up, I started thinking about it. I noticed there wasn’t a show for people in their 30s, or anything to represent the “Hip-Hop Generation”. There wasn’t a show to bridge the generational gap between perspectives and programming, because until then, those perspectives were mostly by older people.

I wanted to create a show to talk about issues. The show that was on Wednesdays from 7 to 9 was all music. I brought in public affairs and [introduced] Tony Muhammad, [a frequent contributor to the show], who is in Florida and an educator of youth. Tony brings perspectives of music and society [from that point-of-view].

Q: What is the format of your show?

A: It’s public affairs with music. I wanted to introduce a show “for us, by us”; unapologetic Black radio that was inspired by George Page’s show that used to be a Saturday show with two hours of jazz music and an hour of public affairs. I always start my show with music from Stevie Wonder and then bring a variety of music, familiar and non-familiar, that is positive regardless of genre. It is important for people to have space for their voices. [My show’s] not monolithic; it’s about balance, about celebrating history, but [also] acknowledging our present.

From its youth, cultural and gender-related programming and public affairs to its broad base of volunteer opportunities and community events, KBOO is an Ellis Island for the diverse, voiceless and sometimes segregated communities here in Portland.
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You can find KBOO online at www.kboo.fm, or on the radio at 90.7 FM in Portland, 91.9 FM in Hood River and 100.7 FM in Corvallis.

Paula Small is a proud member/listener/volunteer of KBOO. She’s also a lifelong learner with a passion for fiction and poetry.