Raqiyah Mays

Raqiyah Mays is a hip-hop journalist and a current Sunday personality at New York radio station Hot97. She is also an entertainment reporter for The Kiss Wake Up Club, on Emmis Communications-owned sister station, 98.7 Kiss FM. In addition to playing music on her Sunday show, Mays reports on entertainment and gives social commentary.

Mays is executive editor of the politically-themed hip hop publication, the Ave Magazine. Founded in 2004, the magazine works to balance coverage of social issues and entertainment. She has written for Vibe, XXL, The Source and has the Associated Press. Although an accomplished writer, Mays had trouble reading as a child. However, with help from her mother, her literacy improved. She attended Penn State to become become a lawyer, but changed her interest to radio, and transferred to Hampton University without her mother's knowledge..

Mays has been working as executive producer on the documentary, Girlfight: The Truth Behind Women in hip hop with veteran producer and director, Timiza Sanyika.Mays said,"In the industry, most women in hip hop have to fight for respect every time they step into a board room, recording booth, or any rap oriented event..." She argues that even with successes, the limited places for women in the industry, instigates catfighting among each other.

Mays once produced shows for DJ Grandmaster Flash at Sirius Satellite Radio, and worked at City College's college radio station WHCR. . She was married on September 4, 2006. She lives in Brooklyn, and originates from Piscataway and Newark, New Jersey.

Controversy

Mays debuted in her Sunday afternoon spot at Hot 97 on March 28, 2004, following the termination from her 10am to 2pm Saturday shift at rival station, WWPR-FM. Her firing came after she made critical remarks AbOUT interracial romance between white women and black men. During an on-air contest promoting Usher's Confessions album and tour, Mays confessed that she is racially prejudiced.

''My confession this hour is that... I'm a racist. I really am. I Have a Problem with white people. Not all white people, but a lot of white people.... I can't tell if they are being real with me or not. And then I hate when the black guy is walking down the street with the white girl. I hate both of them. C'mon, there's a man shortage.

Following complains from some listeners and advertisers, Mays was fired two days later by station owner, Clear Channel. In response to her dismissal, and later hiring, Mays released the following statement.

A lot of the feedback I have gotten from across the country has been very supportive from both black and white people...I feel blessed to have the opportunity to talk to the people again. I can't wait to find out how the tri-state area feels about my comments, life, the world, everything.

Mays elaborated on Clear Channel's decision to fire her.

As an on-air personality, I strive to stimulate thoughts and create interesting discussions when I'm on air and sometimes that involve sharing personal experiences and giving others a forum to discuss and relate on sometimes controversial topics. ... That's the only way we're going to break out of the evil patterns we live in today. Unfortunately the broadcast industry is under FCC scrutiny and we're in political campaign times, so the climate is ripe for reactionary measures. In no way, did I intend to offend the listeners. In fact, I'm shocked that the 'confession show' caused this reaction. ... I simply stated that my concerns with seeing interracial relationships, when we as an African-American community have inner work and healing to do on our own as a result of our history. ... Many single African-American women feel that when they see interracial relationships, that there's one less black man available to them. That very topic was discussed in the recent Newsweek article. ... I am being Censored not for [...] indecency, but for racial indecency in my quest to elevate minds. Unfortunatley, Clear Channel is not ready to hear people discuss their opinions on race relations.

The controversy was reignited on May 22, 2006, when Mays served as principal-for-a-day at Brooklyn's Sankofa Academy, an alternative high school for troubled teenagers. A New York Daily News reporter was allegedly told to leave after questioning the school's decision to invite Mays. In response, a spokesman for NYC schools chancellor, Joel Klein, stated the invitation would have been revoked had City officials known ahead of the scheduled visit. Mays, and fellow Disc Jockey, Megatron, were invited as part of Hip Hop Appreciation Week.

Days later, Mays reacted to the negative coverage on her My Space blog, writing,

...how stupid was it for The NY Daily News to publish a story about me and my old [...] "racist" comments on Tuesday, (that black women have been discussing for years about how many of us sistahs don't like to see brothers with white women) OLD TOPIC!...What asses! If they'd done their research, they'd know that I make it a point to speak to kids regularly - nearly once a week, at least twice a month. Shout to UPN & My 9 News who actually ran a positive story on the event...Raqiyah on My Space