Eddie Harrell

Co-President of Audio Division, URBAN ONE INC

Search every verified Eddie Harrell interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Eddie Harrell, then regional vice president for Radio One, participated in a September 2020 virtual discussion titled "The Way Forward Leader Lunch Break" with Kevin Griffin of The Adcom Group. During the conversation, Harrell described how Radio One, whose stations target African-American audiences, used its platform during protests to promote peaceful demonstration and open phone lines for community expression. He said the company realized that discussions within its own audience were "preaching to the choir" and sought to engage outside listeners by organizing an unprecedented simulcast forum with all of Cleveland's radio partners on the same topic at the same time. Harrell stated that the forum was designed to bring participants together "with no sides" and to start conversations from "a place of commonality." He noted that the moderator was given full control over the questions to ensure a serious discussion, and that the conversation avoided partisan politics to maintain audience engagement. Harrell also said that some colleagues received negative feedback for addressing the subject, which he viewed as a positive sign that the conversation was meaningful. He argued that leaders must acknowledge systemic racism and inequities as a starting point for progress, and that those who do not recognize this risk being part of the problem.