[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 24, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING WJBE AS A KNOXVILLE MEDIA CORNERSTONE

  (Mr. BURCHETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, February is Black History Month, as we all 
know. Today, I rise to recognize WJBE, Knoxville's only Black-owned 
radio station and a media cornerstone in our community.
  WJBE was originally founded by the godfather of soul, James Brown, 
and WJBE actually stood for, back then, James Brown Enterprises. It was 
reorganized in 2013, thanks to the efforts of my good friend and former 
colleague in the Tennessee General Assembly, Joe Armstrong, along with 
his partner and station manager, Gene Thomas, Jr.
  WJBE has grown into a unique home for Knoxville's Black voices. On 
WJBE, musicians showcase their talents, business owners promote their 
services, and public officials share how the latest policies impact the 
people they represent, and that is me included.
  Thanks to this station, the successes and stories of the local Black 
community are heard year-round, not just during Black History Month.
  WJBE is an invaluable part of east Tennessee's culture, Mr. Speaker, 
and I am proud to share the station's story here on the floor of the 
House of Representatives.

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