On April 29, 2022, broadcast journalist Jasmine Caldwell of KCEN announced on Twitter that she would be a part of KCEN’s first-ever all-Black and all-female news anchor team, along with co-anchor Taheshah Moise and meteorologist Ashley Carter.
“Promotion alert,” the tweet began. “These lovely ladies and I will be making history as the first African American all-female news anchor team at @6NewsCTX. I am thrilled and honored.”
?Promotion alert! These lovely ladies and I will be making history as the first African American all female news anchor team at @6NewsCTX . I am thrilled and honored.
See y’all bright and early Monday morning on Texas Today from 4:30-7:00 am. pic.twitter.com/vQqkKy9JYf
— Jasmin Caldwell KCEN (@TVJasmin) April 29, 2022
Caldwell had never thought an all-Black newscast was possible because she’s only ever seen all-white newscasts.
“Growing up, I always saw all-white news anchors,” Caldwell said. “I didn’t think that there would ever be Black newscasts. I knew there was always room for one, but I didn’t think that I would see three African Americans — male or female — permanently, all at one time. No way.”
Caldwell also mentioned how this was a massive change for the station because there weren’t any Black anchors when she first arrived. Before her promotion, Caldwell had thought about leaving KCEN after her contract ended. Caldwell’s consideration of quitting occurred before Moise’s former co-anchor on Texas Today left for WTSP in Tampa, Florida, KCEN’s sister station, where he started his new position on Wednesday.
Today was my first day on-air for @10TampaBay. So excited to bring you the news in the Bay Area. pic.twitter.com/fGaOhYINfj
— Chris Rogers (@ChrisRogersTV) May 12, 2022
With a Black woman already as an anchor, Caldwell didn’t think promotion was headed her way. But to her surprise, her boss asked if she was interested.
“I was shocked when he was considering me,” Caldwell said. “And I said, ‘Well, you know what, this is historic. This is something I have to do.’ And I feel I couldn’t get that at any other station.”
Like Caldwell, Moise and Carter mentioned how she grew up watching the news but not seeing African Americans being represented.
“I just think back to when I was a young girl, and I used to watch the news with my parents, and I never saw anyone who looked like me,” Moise commented, according to Black Enterprise. “If I did, they were outside reporting in the cold.”
Carter talked about how her being a part of history has a new responsibility aside from reporting.
“It kind of added on the responsibility of, OK, I didn’t get to see it [African American news anchors] growing up, and now little girls in this area are going to see me when they wake up, and now it can become a reality.”
Jordan Darensbourg, a meteorologist for KVUE, tweeted that he was proud of Carter, Moise, and Caldwell and told them to “keep killing it.”
This. ALL OF THIS. Proud of y’all @AshleyCarterWX @Taheshah @TVJasmin! Keep killing it! pic.twitter.com/0bZzzfN8sH
— Jordan Darensbourg (@JDarensbourgWx) May 2, 2022
Another Twitter user wrote, “Three Queens! The pride that swelled in my heart to witness this sight! Hold it down, ladies! We’re watching and supporting.”
#KCEN @Taheshah @TVJasmin @AshleyCarterWX Three Queens! ??
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— Mocha Chile (@WhoDatCat411) May 2, 2022
The three queens are on air Monday through Friday, 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.
Congratulations, Caldwell, Moise, and Carter!
