First African-American president of ABC resigns

(Special from Blackmans-Street.Today) — Channing Dungey, the first African American to lead a major television network, has resigned as president of ABC Entertainment amid changes by owner Disney.

In a statement, Dungey said she was “incredibly proud of what the team and I have accomplished over the years, and all the meaningful and impactful programming we’ve developed. This job has been the highlight of my career.”

Dungey, 49, was named ABC Entertainment president in 2016.

During her tenure, she pushed for Roseanne Barr’s firing after the actress referred in a tweet to Valerie Jarrett, an aide to former President Barack Obama, as an ape.

The National Association of Black Journalists praised Dungey for her actions. Barr was the star of the popular sitcom “Roseanne.”

Dungey, however, was criticized for preventing the airing of a segment on the television show “blackish” about National Football League players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality against Black men.

Variety, a weekly trade magazine that covers the entertainment industry, reported that Dungey was unsuccessful in turning around ABC, which is in fourth place among viewers.

This article originally published in the November 26, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.