The National Association of Black Journalists gave ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith its “Thumbs Down” award at its Saturday night gala in Atlanta, citing what it called “a recurring public pattern of disparaging public commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media.” The organization said the pattern “reinforces harmful narratives, undermines the fair and respectful representation of Black women in public discourse, and stands in direct conflict with NABJ’s longstanding commitment to accurate, responsible, and inclusive portrayals of Black communities.” Smith wasn’t alone — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, CBS News, The Washington Post, and broadcaster DuJuan McCoy also received the award this year.
Smith responded Sunday on X: “This is the epitome of Christmas arriving early. The @NABJ wants to call folks out, fine! You had your turn, now mine is coming. And make no mistake…..,I’m coming. Let’s see who REALLY deserves a Thumbs Down award when it comes to the Black Community, after I say my peace on Tuesday.”
A Pattern Worth Naming
Smith has built a career, and a considerable fortune, on maximalist sports-debate theater — but his commentary has increasingly extended well beyond basketball rotations and into direct, personal criticism of Black women in political and media roles. NABJ’s award is a formal, public naming of that pattern by an organization whose credibility rests specifically on tracking how Black journalists and public figures are portrayed. That’s a different kind of criticism than a random social-media pile-on, and it’s worth taking seriously on its own terms.
The Bigger Picture
Smith has also spent the past year drifting toward friendlier terrain with conservative media and Trump-aligned commentators, making the rounds on political talk shows and positioning himself as a “commonsense independent.” Whether that shift and this specific controversy are connected is a fair question to ask — a high-profile clash with an established Black journalism organization is exactly the kind of moment that tends to accelerate a pivot like that, intentionally or not.
What do you think? Is NABJ’s criticism a fair reckoning with a real pattern in Stephen A. Smith’s commentary, or is this overblown? Let us know your thoughts in the comments on BeezLoop.com!
