Mother’s Justice Show: The Big O Discusses Legacy, Trauma, and 'The Big O Show'
Converge Media's Omari “The Big O” Salisbury recently joined his brother Chukundi Salisbury Sr. on the Mother's Justice Show on 1150 KKNW to discuss his new show, “The Big O Show,” the legacy of their parents, and the emotional toll of covering the Seattle protests. Chukundi was filling in as host for the show's incredible founder and his mother, Reverend Harriet Walden.
“The Big O Show”: Unfiltered and On the Road
Omari, known to most for his behind-the-scenes work at Converge Media, has stepped into the spotlight to launch “The Big O Show.” The new show is intended to be an unfiltered extension of the values he was raised with.
"There's never a wrong time to do what's right, and there's never a right time to do what's wrong,” he affirmed to his brother.
The show is not driven by external interests or a personal agenda, but by a commitment to truth. The Big O explained that he can tell the truth through the media because he has "no agenda" with government figures like the mayor. The Converge Media team is not "funded by hate" and is not interested in "driving division" or "putting out clickbait,” he said.
“The Big O Show” is part of the Converge platform, which also features shows like “Back2Besa,” “The Day with Trae,” “We Live In Color,” and “Almost the Weekend!” The new show fills a void left when “The Morning Update Show,” which ran from March 2020 until June 2022, was retired.
“The Morning Update Show” gained widespread recognition for its news coverage during the Seattle protests, ultimately propelling Converge Media to win the NATAS NW Emmy's Governor's Award in 2022.
The Big O noted that he initially did not want to be on camera at all after retiring “The Morning Update Show,” preferring to be a force behind the scenes pushing everybody else. His return to the camera is due to a critical need for news and information in the community.
A key tenet of “The Big O Show” is being visible everywhere. Omari described the show's goal jokingly as being "everywhere like air... from Main to Spain, from Turkey to Albuquerque". Viewers can catch him at the Black Media Matter studio, but the show will also be hitting the road in 2026.
The Legacy of Parents
Both Chukundi and Omari acknowledged the influence of their parents, especially Reverend Harriet Walden, who founded Mothers for Police Accountability. Reverend Walden's legacy includes speaking truth to power unapologetically, the brothers said. Their mother instilled in them the principle that "justice delayed is justice denied [and] injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Chukundi spoke about the "best of both our parents" being exhibited in Omari’s work. He attributed the "passion and the fire of telling people what's right" to their mother, noting that she often said, "Sometimes you got to stand alone.”
He also highlighted his father, James Salisbury Jr., a Brooks Institute graduate and world-class photographer, for his eye for quality and excellence. The excellence of execution, exemplified by the Black Media Matter studio, paired with speaking truth to power and "not be for sale," combines the best elements of both parents.
Converge Media’s commitment to integrity is reflected in Omari’s refusal to sell their protest footage to major news networks or streamers in 2020. He noted that major media were interested, including FOX News and MSNBC, but he is proud that Converge Media never sold any protest footage.
The Trauma of the Seattle Protests
The conversation turned to the emotional toll of covering the 2020 Seattle protests, specifically the incident in CHOP when 16-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. was murdered. Omari was about "a hundred feet away" when it happened and filmed the aftermath.
Five years later, earlier this year, Omari was asked to testify in a civil suit against the city. The city had claimed Antonio Mays Jr. was "committing a crime" and was a "thug" who came to Seattle to be destructive. However, footage Omari shot 48 hours before the murder and provided to a podcast collaboration between The Seattle Times, KUOW, and NPR, revealed Antonio Mays Jr. speaking out for better police training.
The footage was admitted into the civil trial, but the judge ruled it could only be played to the jury on mute, stating it would be "prejudicial to the jury". Omari was only permitted to say what was happening, not what Antonio Mays Jr. said. Furthermore, the jurors were not told the clip was of the victim speaking.
Omari expressed his heartbreak, wishing the jury could have heard the young man's voice. For Antonio Mays Sr., hearing his son's voice on the audio was an incredible gift, affirming his son's intentions, Omari said.
For Omari, the experience of the trial brought back PTSD and trauma from the protests. He shared an emotional moment where he reflected on sending young people home from the dangerous protest.
"If I would have met this boy, I would have done my level best to keep him safe,” he said.
A Look Ahead to 2026
The conversation concluded with a look toward the future, including a reminder that Omari is often the only Black media presence at city hall press conferences. Chukundi emphasized the need for a "lens of Blackness" on issues like police accountability.
"Everything that's good for Seattle... is not necessarily always good for Black people,” he said.
Chukundi also announced a Black Parent Summit at Garfield High School on Saturday, January 10, 2026 The brothers encouraged listeners to follow Mothers for Police Accountability on Facebook and Instagram.
Check out what Omari Salisbury is up to on “The Big O Show” here, and listen to more episodes of “Mother’s Justice Show” on 1150 KKNW here.
