Wikipedia

Roland Martin (journalist)

Roland Sebastian Martin is a political commentator for TV One, the host of News One Now, and Washington Watch with Roland Martin.[1]

Roland Martin
Martin in 2017
Born
Roland Sebastian Martin

Houston, Texas, U.S.
EducationTexas A&M University (BS)
Louisiana Baptist University (MA)
OccupationCommentator
Notable credit(s)Chicago Defender, CNN
Spouses
Deborah Duncan
​
(m. 1993⁠–⁠1999)​
Jacquie Hood Martin
​
(m. 2001)​
Websitewww.rolandsmartin.com

He was also a CNN contributor, appearing The Situation Room, Anderson Cooper's AC360, and others. In October 2008, he joined the Tom Joyner Morning Show as senior analyst. He hosts a web series, Roland Martin Unfiltered on YouTube.

Books authored by Martin include Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America,[2][3] Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith and The First: President Barack Obama's Road to the White House as originally reported by Roland S. Martin and White Fear: How the Browning of America is Making White Folks Lose Their Minds.

He earned a Peabody Award for its outstanding 2008 United States elections coverage, of which he was a member of the Best Political Team on Television.[4]

Early life and career

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Martin was born in Houston, Texas. His maternal great-grandparents had migrated from Haiti to Louisiana, where his family originates.[5] He graduated with a B.S. in journalism from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in Christian communications from Louisiana Baptist University.[6] Martin is a life member of the National Association of Black Journalists; a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.[7]

He is the former executive editor of the Chicago Defender.

From 2005 to 2008, Martin hosted a morning radio talk show on WVON in Chicago.[8] He guest-hosted Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull while Brown was on maternity leave in April and May 2009. In 2009, CNN was awarded the Peabody Award for its outstanding 2008 election coverage, of which Martin was a member of the Best Political Team on Television.[9]

He became the host of TV One's first Sunday News program Washington Watch with Roland Martin in 2009. It ran for 4 years. His popularity skyrocketed when he became a cable news fixture as a commentator for CNN from 2007 to 2013.[10] CNN ratings spiked whenever Martin appeared on the cable channel’s programs.[11]

In March 2013, Martin announced on Twitter that he was leaving CNN.[12] His last day was on April 6, 2013.[13]

It was announced on July 9, 2013, that Martin would be the host of TV One's first live one-hour, weekday morning news program titled NewsOne Now.[1] The program premiered on November 4, 2013.[1] On December 7, 2017, Martin announced on air that TV One had canceled the show due to low ratings from Black viewers, but that he would still remain involved with the network. On January 14, 2018, it was announced that Martin had won two NAACP Image Awards for the show. Martin hosted a three-hour radio show called The Roland Martin Show.[14]

Roland Martin Unfiltered

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In 2018, he launched and hosts a web series, Roland Martin Unfiltered on YouTube, offering a daily discussion of news, politics and opinion on subjects relevant to disparate Black communities.[15] Three years later, it became the flagship for his Black Star Network, which now has seven shows.[16]Through his Black Star Network, Martin prioritizes centering Black audiences rather than chasing mainstream validation. Ultimately, his goal is to build a lasting, scalable Black media ecosystem that ensures long-term ownership and influence.[17] Martin’s YouTube page has grown significantly during the past 18 months to 1.9 million followers at present.[18]

In 2025, Revolt says Martin is one of "14 Black political voices in media shaping the conversation."[19]

Controversy

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On February 5, 2012, Martin responded to an underwear advertisement featuring the association football player David Beckham, posting on Twitter "If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him!" The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation responded on its website: "Martin's tweets today advocating violence against gay people weren't an accident — they are a part of a larger pattern for Martin. Anti-gay violence in America is a serious problem".[20] Martin was suspended by CNN for the controversial tweets.[21] His suspension was lifted on March 14, 2012.[22]

In 2016, Martin leaked CNN town hall questions to former DNC Chair Donna Brazile, who then leaked them to Hillary Clinton's camp when he was acting as guest-moderator. According to Politico, in an email the day before the March town hall to senior Clinton staffers, Brazile wrote: "From time to time I get the questions in advance" and included the text of a question about the death penalty. An email later obtained by Politico showed that the text of the question Brazile sent to the Clinton campaign was identical to a proposed question Martin had offered CNN.[23]

Personal Life

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He is married to Jacquie Hood Martin.[24] His wife is the author of Fulfilled! The Art and Joy of Balanced Living,[25] and Wedded Bliss: A 52-Week Devotional to Balanced Living and the children's book series, Hannah's Heart. They reside in northern Virginia and the Dallas area.[26]

List of broadcasts

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Articles

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  • "What to really do?"[27]
  • "The new reality for Bush and the Democrats"[28]
  • "Obama Birth Issue is Nutty"[29]
  • "Roland Martin is on Watch"[30]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Bibel, Sara (July 9, 2013). "Roland S. Martin to Host 'News One Now', TV One's First Daily News Program". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ Martin, Roland S (2002). Speak, Brother!: A Black Man's View of America (First ed.). Dallas: Martin Media Group. ISBN 0-9719107-0-7.
  3. ↑ "CNN's Martin to be honored". Archived from the original on October 10, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Roland Martin believes in Black-owned media, and he's using his own money to prove it". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  5. ↑ Roland Martin (2009). Roland Martin of CNN is Proud of His Haitian Heritage. USA: Smith Georges. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  6. ↑ Vanderberg, Marcus (June 6, 2012). "So What Do You Do, Roland Martin, CNN Contributor And Host Of TV One's Washington Watch?". Mediabistro. Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  7. ↑ Rice, Ron (July 5, 2017). "Rice: Charter Schools Are Advancing the Cause of Black Education in America for the 21st Century". Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Roland. S Martin joins CNN as contributor" (Press release). Inside Cable. March 2007. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  9. ↑ TIMES/TNS, STEPHEN BATTAGLIO | LOS ANGELES (July 29, 2022). "Roland Martin believes in Black-owned media". Daytona Times. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Roland Martin believes in Black-owned media, and he's using his own money to prove it". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Roland Martin believes in Black-owned media, and he's using his own money to prove it". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  12. ↑ Washington, Laura (March 24, 2013). "Roland Martin isn't leaving CNN quietly". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  13. ↑ Zakarin, Jordan (March 19, 2013). "Roland Martin Leaves CNN". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  14. ↑ Jenkins, Venita (January 13, 2017). "Roland Martin Keynote Speaker for Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration". University of North Carolina Wilmington News. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  15. ↑ Barefield, Valerie Fields Hill Allana J. (December 31, 2020). "Roland Martin makes strides with digital newscast". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Roland Martin believes in Black-owned media, and he's using his own money to prove it". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  17. ↑ Powell, Jon. "Roland Martin on his legacy and the power of Black media: "I want an ecosystem that can last"". REVOLT. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  18. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (February 2, 2026). "Local TV Veteran Brittany Noble Finally Feels 'Free' in Journalism With 'The Breakdown' Newscast on Black Star Network". Variety. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  19. ↑ Powell, Jon. "14 Black political voices in media shaping the conversation". Revolt. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  20. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120207212542/https://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2012/02/05/GLAAD_to_CNN_Fire_Roland_Martin_for_Antigay_Comments/
  21. ↑ Coscarelli, Joe (May 4, 2010). "CNN Suspends Roland Martin for Super Bowl Tweets - Daily Intelligencer". New York Magazine. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  22. ↑ Wemple, Erik (March 13, 2012). "Roland Martin's suspension from CNN is over". The Washington Post.
  23. ↑ Gold, Hadas (October 31, 2016). "Brazile under siege after giving Clinton debate question". POLITICO. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  24. ↑ Moore, Linda A. "TV One commentator Roland S. Martin tells The New Olivet Baptist Church to "Walk in Your Destiny"". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  25. ↑ Home; Honorees, Speakers Event Host Boss; Sponsors; Register; Nominate; Contact; Home; Honorees, Speakers/Event HostBoss; Host, Event. "Dr. Jacquie Hood Martin". BOSS Ladies That Lead. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Roland Martin finds a bit of Texas in Leesburg". The Washington Post. November 27, 2013. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  27. ↑ Martin, Roland (April 24, 2007). "Martin: What would Jesus really do?". CNN.com. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  28. ↑ mbarnesdesign, ToSon BT (November 17, 2006). "Roland S. Martin: The new reality for Bush and the Democrats". Black America Today. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  29. ↑ Martin, Roland S. (July 22, 2009). "Commentary: Obama birth issue is nutty". CNN.com. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  30. ↑ Electronic Urban Report. "Black Entertainment News - EURWeb.com". EURweb. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
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