The Faces Changing History in Louisville: Nailah Spencer
BY DAWN ANDERSON | PHOTOS GDL REPORTER ELLE BOTTOM
N early a year into her on-air position as Lifestyle Reporter for WHAS11’s Great Day Live, Nailah Spencer has arrived at a full-circle moment she firmly believes she manifested for herself, inspired by other Black women in Louisville media. She recalls being admonished in her middle school AP class- es for “asking too many questions” and then being limited by her teachers to two questions per day. Building a successful career out of asking questions is poetic justice. Spencer, who grew up in Louisville, Southern Indiana, and Dallas, Texas, was a 15-year-old student at Ballard High School in February 2012 when 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in his father’s girlfriend’s Sanford, Florida subdivision by neighborhood watch coordinator George Zim- merman. Zimmerman was charged with murder but claimed self-defense and was acquitted at trial. “That’s when I decided we need to tell our own stories and change the narrative,” says Spencer. So she began creating YouTube videos about what she saw in the news and through- out the trial. “I wanted to encourage others to stay informed about what was happening in their communities, and to use their voices to speak out against injustices.” Spencer was also involved in debate and theater. Her mother put it all together and suggested journalism. Spencer joined the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) as a student at the University of Kentucky. “We were able to tour stations, meet mentors, attend seminars, and find a real sense of community.” She also covered politics, news, lifestyle, and entertainment for various student-run campus media organizations. Although Spencer was finding her niche, she felt pressure in college to straighten the natural hair her mother had always encouraged her to embrace. During her junior and senior years, Spencer had her first experiences with live television. In her 2019 reel, her hair was styled many different ways. “It was hurtful to think that could play a role in whether or not I could get a job.” But in July 2021, Louisville Mayor Greg Fisch- er signed the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, banning discrimination based on a per- son’s natural hair or hairstyles. The CROWN Act is a legislative priority for the ACLU of Kentucky in 2023.
After graduating from UK in 2019 with a B.A. in Journalism, Spencer began her professional career as a news reporter with WTVM in Columbus, Georgia. She covered East Alabama and West Georgia, reporting on issues such as the pandem- ic and social unrest. Traveling as a Black woman in the Deep South during such a time was difficult. A counter-protestor waved a Confederate flag in Spencer’s face at a protest in front of a Confederate statue in Hamilton, Georgia. “The work was rewarding, but it took a toll on my mental health. I was internalizing everything and had to reas- sess my work/life balance.” But Spencer says she received an amazing response from the community. “I was determined to remain fair and balanced, ensuring that people were proper- ly represented and felt seen and heard.” With the storytelling skills she honed in Georgia, Spencer returned to Louisville and freelanced for The Source - The Magazine of Hip Hop Music, Culture and Politics, “The Good Look” blog, and Today’s Woman Magazine. In February 2022, Spencer responded to a Great Day Live job posting. She se- cured the position, following in the footsteps of her aunt, for- mer WHAS11 news reporter and anchor Donna Lacy Marshall. Spencer is excited about covering Black History Month, Wom- en’s History Month, AMPED RTBI, health and wellness, the lo- cal art scene, Louisville’s Black-owned businesses, and wom- en entrepreneurs in 2023. Last year, she was thrilled to cover Kentucky Derby events she grew up hearing about as a child. For Derby 149, Spencer hopes to shine a light on the history of Black jockeys. Spencer enjoys repurposing content for social media, with TikTok and Instagram Reels trending heavily. She frequents underrated gems like Dasha Barbours Southern Bistro and The Inner Warrior yoga studio, and Louisville’s most Insta- gram-worthy locations, such as murals by Kacy Jackson and Jaylin Stewart. “This is a food and art city with many things right in our backyard. Support small businesses to help drive the local economy and venture out of your neighborhood.” Visit whas11.com/great-day-live. Follow @nailah- brianna_ on Instagram and @NailahBSpencer on Facebook.
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