By Iya Ta’Shia Asanti
Colleagues of Rosalind J. Harris, who is affectionately known as “Bee” in the Denver community, and the staff at Urban Spectrum, all know how modest she is about her many achievements in the field of publishing. We are excited to take this rare opportunity to celebrate Bee’s work as a media executive and to bring forth a collective honoring by the community-at-large, local politicians, and Urban Spectrum contributors, all of whom salute the work of Urban Spectrum and recognize it as a vital educational tool and media outlet in Denver and across America. We are delighted that so many community leaders came forth to share their congratulations to the Urban Spectrum for a job well done.
“It’s hard to believe that its going on 20 years for the community gem we call the Urban Spectrum,” said former editor Helen Littlejohn. “From the beginning, Bee had a vision of what the paper would become. I am fortunate to have been there then and to still be associated with the paper today. Bee has always been there steering her baby just where it needed to go, when it needed to be there. The Urban Spectrum has truly become a vital and integral part of the community and it will remain so because there will always be a need to spread the news about people of color.”
When asked about how the journey began, Harris tells a story of vision, hope, and determination to create, develop and sustain a media outlet that would represent her community. Her love and dedication covers the pages of every issue of Urban Spectrum. She takes deep pride in publishing a paper that exemplifies pride in her culture and a celebration of the accomplishments of her fellows.
“Sometime in 1986, I was approached by then computer programmer, Robert Stewart, who said he was interested in starting a newspaper. Robert, who was new to Denver from Pittsburgh, was looking for a graphic designer. After asking around, he had been directed to me by several people. Being quite younger than me, and “still wet behind the ears,” I told him to develop a business plan and get back with me. Several months had passed when I was approached by photo-journalist Ron Steele, who was looking for a partner to start a newspaper. Déjà vu! I felt like someone was tapping me on the shoulder. I told him to wait a minute -- I knew someone else who was interested in starting a newspaper. And, after the three of us met, we literally hit the ground running. We had a photographer and I was the graphic designer. We had some writers who were interested in getting published. The three of us attempted to sell a few advertisements so we could print the first issue. After securing $1,102 in advertising sales, we were able to print the first issue which costs $1,100. And the rest, as they say, is history,” said Bee Harris, publisher and editor-in-chief of Urban Spectrum.
Bee’s media dream was launched but she knew it would take serious dedication and hard work to keep the paper moving forward. She took the bull by the horns and made it happen. Even after her initial partners moved on, Bee kept going. She was determined to succeed, and succeed she has.
The Elders say you can tell a tree by its fruit. The success of US writers is an indicator that the roots of Urban Spectrum -- which Bee has watered, pruned, and sun-fed for 19 years -- are strong enough to create branches of opportunities for all who join the team. Many contributors have come and gone to write for major dailies, national magazines, and even become authors. But those who have stayed and continue to contribute, help make US what it is today.
“Urban Spectrum covers a wide variety of issues effecting people of color that mainstream publications do not cover,” said longtime US contributor Quibian Salazar-Moreno. “US was the first publication to publish my work and for that I’m grateful. Because of the work I’ve done for the Urban Spectrum, I’ve gotten to write for the Denver Post, Westword, Denver Business Journal and many others. Urban Spectrum is something special that we must support and cling to.”
Bee’s motivation to keep Urban Spectrum going came in part from what she saw as the need to have a strong voice that represented communities of color, in the media. The initial concept of the Urban Spectrum was to focus on African Americans, Latino, Native American and Asian communities. While US recognizes and honors the work of all communities of color, it evolved into a media outlet that focuses primarily on African American and Latino communities.
Urban Spectrum has helped usher in and support three Denver mayors in its history. The very first issue had a letter of endorsement from Mayor Federico Pena, who was Denver's first Latino mayor. US literally traveled alongside Denver's first African-American mayor, Wellington E. Webb, documenting his rising political career and joining him on pilgrimages to Africa. US works closely with the Honorable Mayor John Hickenlooper’s office and supports his cultural and artistic endeavors through participation on councils, commissions and boards, and through providing media coverage for news and social events.
“The Urban Spectrum has gone from a monthly news publication to a community institution, an institution that provides us with a sense of community, a sense of place and a sense of information for people of color. It provides an outlet for critical thought, thinking and humor too,” said former Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb, who served from 1991 to 2003. “It [US] also provides information and a calendar of events of what has transpired and is transpiring in the community. It is an important community voice and has become, in a very short time, a community institution.”
Even with the support of the city’s political community, Urban Spectrum has faced all the normal challenges of being a community-based publication.
“I think some of the challenges and victories are the same for most small businesses,” said Bee. It doesn't matter if you are minority-owned or woman-owned. That challenge is generating enough money to keep your doors open, covering your overhead, and paying your staff in the midst of providing and delivering a good product. We’re fortunate that our advertisers recognize that US has a connection to the masses and that choosing our paper to advertise their products or services gives them prime visibility in communities of color.
US works hard to maintain the connection to the diverse communities who represent our readership and the consumers who support us and our advertiser’s products.”
Local business owners and community leaders recognize the Urban Spectrum as a powerful media vehicle in the city of Denver.
Former state representative and attorney Penfield Tate, III said “the Urban Spectrum has been and remains a vital force in giving voice to the concerns of the community. It (Urban Spectrum) is a way for the community to express its concerns and issues in an uncensored and unfiltered fashion.”
A great thinker once said that the greatest success comes from continuing in the face of what seem like impossible obstacles. Urban Spectrum met one of its greatest challenges on December 31, 1989. The paper was almost three years old.
Bee remembers that evening like it was yesterday. “I received two disturbing phone calls. I was getting ready to go to Dr. Daddio's New Year's Eve party when I decided to check the messages at the office. Isetta Crawford Rawls, a contributing writer who did not live far from the office, had left a message saying, "Rosalind, I can't tell for sure but it looks like the office is on fire." Beep.
The next message was equally disturbing. "This is the Denver Fire Department. We need to get in touch with the owner of your building. It is on fire."
“Ironically and luckily, the Fire Department was right across the street. I slowly took off my holiday shoes, put back on my boots and headed off to face a scene that would change the Spectrum forever. Everything was burned. We had no backup files. Most of our original artwork was destroyed and the many photos we’d collected over the three years we’d been in operation were gone. I still have some of the photos that bear the charred edges from that fire – photos with Phil Donahue, Cicely Tyson, and Mayor Pena. I was joined by former columnist Mucussa Arhmm-Khan who was equally hurt by the disaster. I tearfully watched him cry.
“After the fire, the community rallied with fundraisers to support the rebuilding of Urban Spectrum. The fundraisers, which were titled ‘Have A Heart’ were spearheaded by local comedian September Brown. Other publishers including Sharon Silvis and the late Cosmo Harris opened their doors and lent us computers to help us get back on our feet. Times Call Printing in Longmont offered to print our paper for free. And again, the rest is history.”
That fire was a branding for the determination and sheer will it would take not only to keep the paper going but make it a huge success. And success did come and was beyond what anyone could imagine. Bee Harris, on behalf of the Urban Spectrum would be honored locally by the community and government, and nationally as a Burger King Everyday Hero in New York for her work as a publisher. The Urban Spectrum has garnered awards year after year from the Colorado Association of Black Journalists.
“I was also deeply honored to receive the Martin Luther King Humanitarian Awards and the Dr. Martin Luther King Social Responsibility Award from Wilma J. Webb and former Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb,” said Bee, remembering that special day with appreciation.
But one of Bee’s most special moments happened the day she met the publishing and media icon, Oprah Winfrey.
Recalls Bee, “The Queen of Talk, Oprah Winfrey brought her ‘Live Your Best Life’ tour to Denver. I was fortunate to talk with Winfrey and show her the first issue of US with her photo in it when she was in Denver 18 years before. The photo of her holding the first issue of the Spectrum was captured and published in People Magazine.”
Now that was an “aha” moment!
And the work continues, as do the statements of members of the community who honor the work of the Spectrum.
“The Urban Spectrum allows the community to reflect itself,” said long-time business associate KUVO CEO and General Manager, Florence Hernandez-Ramos. “It showcases the cultural contributions and positive aspects of a community that is usually portrayed negatively in mainstream media. It [US] celebrates the accomplishments of the community.”
Bee’s personal message to the community is simple but profound.
“The Urban Spectrum is all about community. We are proud of our relationships with the Denver Black Arts Festival, Juneteenth, the Colorado AIDS Walk, the Colorado Association of Black Journalists and other organization who reach out to US for support. We have strived and we have maintained. We have endured many ups and downs, and I am fortunate and happy that the entire community has embraced US over the years. Even after 19 years of publishing Denver's premiere community newspaper, we still and always will need advertising dollars to keep this paper going. It is disappointing to pick up a Westword and see a business from the community advertising in it and not supporting US, the Denver Weekly News or the Body of Christ. Some of these businesses come to us seeking sponsorship or free advertising,” said Bee. “We as a community must learn about the principle of reciprocity. I also wish that some of our corporate advertisers would support us during months other than Black History Month or Juneteenth. The community, their consumers, and our readers are here all year long,” said Bee. “And so are we -- for the long haul.”
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