I've Got A Testimony

Reggie Working on the Automation 

Ten years ago, I was teaching at Kennedy King College, station manager of WKKC FM and playing gospel music. The station continued being very popular and was a “household” name being mentioned in the same breathes as the "big boys" on the other end of the FM dial. The late radio personality - "Tornado" was always on the air joking about WKKC FM saying things like - "y'all a college station and only broadcast two blocks" but Tornado's jibes were really a compliment and respect to the station because the south side just wasn't the south side without WKKC.

Faculty and staff guided WKKC FM to a "community institution" producing talents like Greg "Guy" Black, Isadore Pink, Rory McKenzie, Khris Raye, Randi Knight, and many other former students who went on to make it in the industry. Through the years there has never been a time that someone from WKKC FM wasn't working somewhere in some radio station across the nation. WKKC staff personnel Kevin Brown and James Kelly did a marvelous job building and maintaining a solid foundation for WKKC FM a foundation that lasted 30 years. I am proud to have been a part of it.

At the end of the year in 2002, WKKC FM was broadcasting 24 hours daily. I was proud to have orchestrated the change under my tenure. I remember folk calling me "crazy" for changing the way we said 89 point 3 to 89 dot 3 on the air. There were two goals that I wanted for WKKC one, to place WKKC on the Internet and two, move the station to a 24 hour operation. Personally, I desired for the station to be "nationally" recognized and the students to have "hands on experience" with the latest technology of the industry. I submitted an advanced technology proposal and Kennedy King College invested in a digital automation system for the station.

When the new equipment arrived I focused on installing the equipment and like a mother with a newborn. I monitored the system sometimes spending nights at the station making sure that the automation program was running properly. Some people wondered if I had a life, I was spending so much time at WKKC. I was determined to tailor the system for operation with or without a human being.   

It was a journey toward the future. I researched another university station and discovered an automation system that fit within the budget. At my own expense, I traveled to Nashville visiting the college campus that used the system. Tennessee State University's radio station WTST used the digital automation system that I recommended and the journey to TSU was the start of a relationship that still exists today. Although I had reservations about automation, I knew that in the long run it would benefit the students. I needed to see how the system operated and the trip turned out to be an experience I would never forget. On that weekend when I traveled to TSU low and behold it was homecoming. And if you've never attended an HBCU homecoming weekend you missed an awesome experience.

The crew of students that manned the microphones at WKKC were a great bunch. We did things together as a team. I involved the students everywhere. They bought into the idea of getting an educational degree. Many of the students during my years earned their BA degrees
One of my students went on to earn their Masters degree. Each year in April, the students looked forward to making the trip to the Black College Radio Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Bruce, Kevin, Drewsean, Nicole, Latrice, Keion and many other students that were in my classes worked hard to maintain the positive imagine and broadcast excellence of WKKC in the community. We were SOMEBODY and I was really proud of the direction.

On January 3rd 2003, after completing the Gospel Express program, I was called to the office by my supervisor and told that I was being "let go". It felt like a blow to the "solar plexus" I couldn't breathe and I wondered what I had done. I had been working so hard to maintain the station and teaching. I couldn't understand. I was asked to resign. Of course, I refused to resign and was then fired. Well, immediately reality hit me in the face. My dream of being the first student to comeback to WKKC as a qualified teacher would not be realized. I had placed all my eggs in the basket of WKKC. I wanted nothing more than to be on the south side of Chicago at Kennedy King College and WKKC. I thought if I had went back to school to finish my Bachelors and Masters degrees I could earn my way into City Colleges of Chicago as a teacher. Hard work pays off right? Well, not in the case of being employed at Kennedy King College. God knew me and what I would do. The situation at Kennedy King College and WKKC was preparing me for something else that I would later discover.

As news of my dismissal found its way to the students and the community an incredible outpouring occurred. Not everyone though was sympathetic, some rejoiced and were making plans even before I left the building. My supervisor allowed me to gather my things and I left to go home, talk about a feeling of emptiness, well it was all over me. Calls started coming from everywhere many were suggesting that I fight for my job, however, nothing really mattered at that time because I thought I had failed. Several students came to my house to get clarity about the situation, see how I was doing and to comfort me. The first thing they asked was “Do you want us to do anything”? And I said “NO”! It was obvious that the college had made other plans and I did not fit into the future. I was used and let go.

Later on, I would discover that happens all the time in the City Colleges of Chicago. Although the dismissal itself was hard to take everyone treated me with respect. The next day Saturday January 4, I received a message from God in the person of the late Reverend James Frazier, who called me totally upset about what had happened. And like a "big brother" Reverend Frazier gave me a message that I would never forget and I love him to this day for. At that moment, I realized that God was moving in my favor.

There was a serious attempt being waged to destroy my character, which I did not understand. Rumors and innuendo flew around like planes coming in and out of Midway airport. Everyday it was something different. Two of my former students turned against me believing that I was not who they thought I was. I think that hurt more than losing the job but God was still working in my favor. Sometimes we go through things that we don't understand. God was working for my good. I did not see it then, but it is as clear as day ten years later.

As the weeks passed, I could not turn on the radio to listen to WKKC but I knew God was not going to let anything happen to the station the Lord was moving me on. I did not know where. I was looking everyday for a job in broadcasting. No jobs in my vocation were available, my savings were close to being used up and I was not receiving unemployment compensation. The situation looked bleak. The City Colleges challenged my request for unemployment compensation and I had to deal with an administrative hearing. The results of the hearing stated that the record was devoid however as an at will employee, I can be terminated for any, good, bad or no reason. Therefore I was entitled to unemployment compensation.  I felt better knowing that I was fired for political reasons not because I did anything wrong. Any bitterness at that point left me, all I wanted was to show my former students that I was not guilty of the rumors and everything that I had done at the college in regards to the radio station was legitimate and above reproach.

A song writer wrote, "On Time God" and on February 27 2003, I read an announcement for an assistant professor position at Howard University, however the deadline for the application was the next day. I called Howard immediately and said I could fax the materials by tomorrow but the hard copy would not arrive until Monday. They accepted my fax. I called my mentor Professor Virgil Hemphill and asked for a letter of recommendation and he penned a glowing letter. I reached out to my other mentor Professor Mel Muchnik and he wrote an outstanding recommendation. I wondered who this guy was they were talking about but it was God crafting those letters. I faxed the completed resume package. Howard acknowledged that they received it. I compiled the hard copy Friday and mailed it priority.

On that Monday March 3rd I received a phone call from Professor Ted Roberts of Howard University. I almost dropped the phone. He said "Howard University" wants you. We will fly you to DC, March 25, 2003 be prepared to teach two classes. At that moment, I was in shock. I called my wife Felicia and told her and she yelled Yes God and only to a select few did I tell of what God was doing.

Time seemed to accelerate and when I flew out to DC, I took everything to teach. I had a portable studio in my luggage. The Department of Radio Television and Film at Howard University booked my lodging at the Holiday Inn near the campus. For the first time in a while I felt appreciated. It was as if I could hear God say "I got you now!" The first day at Howard, I met the faculty in the Department of Radio Television and Film it was an incredible experience as they questioned me with everything. Here I am, among some of the most incredible thinkers in communications. I was in awe of the great faculty members and my responses focused on a commitment to students and the desire to be the best teacher for them.

I got the opportunity to show what I could do in the classroom the following day. I felt as if God was my assistant in the room. I set up my studio to the amazement of the students in less than 10 minutes. I was lecturing at every step. I produced and performed a commercial right before their eyes in less that 30 minutes. The professor of the class stepped back and let me demonstrate my teaching style. The demonstration turned out to be a very lively one. I felt God with me.

After the teaching demonstration, I toured other areas of the Department. When I arrived back in the department office. I was asked what did I do in the class because the students were so impressed that they were expressing their opinions and one student in particular went to both the department chair and dean to say "Bring him ( Mr.Miles) here, We need him." I was stunned. God was making everything right. The next day I left Washington, DC wondering if I did well enough. One the plane, I wondered why the faculty kept asking me about Howard. Then it hit me, I gave little or no responses on the history of the university. In an interview you should at least research your prospective employer. I was hoping that would not be held against me. I was so focused on teaching.

When I arrived back in Chicago, I revealed that I was interviewed at Howard University and the haters were still busy hating but this time there was nothing that they could do or say to stop what God was doing in my life. I called Reverend Frazier and told him what happened and he replied "you got the job, it's already done."

Weeks passed and a bit of doubt crept in my thought. I was thinking well I at least got a trip to DC all expenses paid. It was a Wednesday night and I was at Church being the audio engineer during the annual bible convention then in the midst of the service a phone call came. I thought it was from a gospel artist that lives in the DC area that I knew. I answered the phone as if I were talking to the gospel artist. Then my colleague said " No, this is Howard University" I said "what, what," My colleague replied "This is Howard University and we have selected you to join our faculty". Tears immediately poured down my face, God had stepped in and took care of everything. I revealed to my ministry mates in the Church that I had been chosen to teach at Howard University.

At that moment change happened, God made a statement. "He is mine and I got him.' I called Felicia to tell her and she was happy for me. It was a week later that I received the letter from Howard University confirming the selection. On Sunday at Church I presented the letter to my pastor the late Bishop Brazier. He read it and said. "So I'm gonna lose you huh Brother Miles?" then smiled.

The most awesome thing for me was being in the sanctuary of the Apostolic Church of God for both services and Bishop Brazier read the letter to the congregation. Bishop Brazier asked me to stand up as he read the letter not telling the congregation where it was from. When he got to the end of the letter he read it proudly saying to the congregation "Reginald Miles you have been selected to join the faculty as Assistant Professor at  Howard University in Washington, DC  that  brought a roar of bless God and Hallelujahs that I can still hear in my mind today. All I can do and say is Only God !!!

I AM BLESSED.

Your gift will make room for you, sometimes your plans are not Gods plans and what others intend for bad God uses that to get Glory out of the situation. Thank You God for getting Glory out of my life.