Rather than using Black History Month to recognize the adversity faced by Black Americans and celebrate Black culture, Fox News, its website, its sister website Fox Business, and its online streaming platform Fox Nation have instead used the month of February to peddle problematic anti-Black narratives.
Although Fox has aired a few Black history month segments — such as one on civil rights activist and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and one on the first Black woman to hold a pilot’s license, Bessie Coleman — more airtime was spent pushing racist rhetoric. Every day of February, Fox figures have spread anti-Black narratives, accusing President Joe Biden’s administration of anti-white racism; fearmongering about critical race theory being taught in K-12 schools as a part of a so-called “woke” liberal agenda; and undermining the existence of and harm done by systemic racism.
Fox News’ rhetoric on race has repeatedly contradicted its parent company Fox Corp.’s initiatives for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) — much like Fox News’ ongoing campaign of anti-LGBTQ hate contrasts Fox Corp.’s claim to be “committed to LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion.” From its own webpage on inclusion, Fox Corp. pledges that it is “committed to fostering a culture and environment where everyone, from everywhere, feels welcome and can thrive.” The page also lists “employee resource groups” including “BLK+,” which “celebrates the intersectionality of our Black colleagues across the diaspora at Fox, and seeks to build community within through programming and professional development while standing in solidarity with our allies.” Despite this corporate commitment, Fox News has given a platform to countless narratives that harm Black communities.
Fox’s behavior is part of a larger trend, as other right-wing media outlets and personalities have also pushed racist narratives in February. For example, The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh jokingly questioned on his February 9 podcast, “Why exactly is it a negative stereotype that a lot of Black people like chicken and waffles?” And on the February 1 edition of his own show, Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA declared, “I don't think there should be a Black History Month.”
Below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of Fox pushing at least one anti-Black narrative every day in February.