Why the NABJ Gave Stephen A. Smith a Thumbs Down at This Year’s Conference

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith is used to being the loudest voice in the room. This past weekend, the National Association of Black Journalists made sure he heard a voice that disagreed with him.

At its annual convention in Atlanta, the NABJ gave Smith its 2026 “Thumbs Down” award, accusing the ESPN personality and political commentator of a “recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports and media.”

The award is not new. NABJ defines it as a callout for individuals or organizations whose reporting, commentary or practices are considered especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical toward the Black community, or inconsistent with the organization’s goals.

Past recipients have included the former owner of the Black News Channel in 2022 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and its board chair in 2021. The organization has not publicly listed every recipient in its online archives, but the award has historically been used to call out both individual journalists and major institutions.

RELATED: 15 Times Stephen A. Smith Disappointed Black Folks

During the conference, NABJ President Errin Haines said the door remains open for recipients to change their conduct, but added: “NABJ will not be silent. Not in this moment, and not on my watch.”

In Smith’s case, a documented history of criticizing Black political leaders like former Vice President Kamala Harris and Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett landed him in the hot seat, we previously reported. But he was not alone.

NABJ also gave “Thumbs Down” awards to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, CBS News, The Washington Post, and media executive DuJuan McCoy. Smith’s inclusion, however, carried particular weight because he is not simply a Black media personality that NABJ happens to cover. He has been part of the organization’s orbit.

Just last year, Smith and “First Take” were featured at NABJ’s Cleveland convention, where he participated in programming for journalists and aspiring media professionals, according to Cleveland.com. The year before, “First Take” also broadcasted from NABJ’s convention in Chicago.

Now, that relationship looks considerably different. Smith’s response to the honor suggested he had no intention of quietly accepting the rebuke.

“This is the epitome of Christmas arriving early,” he wrote on X. “You had your turn, now mine is coming.” He added, “I’ve shut my mouth for years. Now y’all started something.”

While Smith will respond in his own way, for the NABJ, the award is a call to action and a test to see who will stand by Black communities when they need public support in the media. “We are here to confront the people and the systems who make your job harder,” NABJ President Haines continued. “We are here to defend the truth, and that means telling it even when the truth makes our friends uncomfortable.”