Firing Kimberly and Beck was only the first step. Black leaders want to see more done.

Two Rochester radio hosts have been fired for making racist on-air comments, but the incident and their dismissal represent the tip of the iceberg when it comes to addressing racism in this community, say a number of local observers.

On Tuesday, during a discussion about the attack of a local couple following Saturday's Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Rochester, Kimberly Ray and Barry Beck of Radio 95.1's Kimberly and Beck Show referred to the n-word three times, asking if the attackers were acting “n-word-ish” and “n-word-ly." Ray did not actually use the n-word.

It's not the first time the two have provoked controversy with their statements. But Danielle Ponder, a local lawyer and musician, said Tuesday's comments were "even more alarming because they were so blatantly offensive."

And the bigger issue, she said, is that the station, owned by iHeartRadio, hired the two despite their known pattern of "racist, transphobic and offensive comments that they continually spread on the airwaves."

Ponder said that the community must hold the station accountable "for its history of using its platform to embolden hateful voices. We demand a statement from them addressing how they will change the culture of their station."

Everyone copes with toxic rhetoric in their own way. Some protest, others meditate.

"I cope by speaking truth to power and calling for action," she said, encouraging others to do the same. "Contact 95.1 and hold them accountable, publicly support the demands of our Black Lives Matter movement, give money to black-led organizations. People should act."

Ponder added: "We cannot begin to heal until we see real change."

The Rochester Association of Black Journalists (RABJ) on Wednesday issued a statement on the firing.

“To suggest people were acting "n-word-ly" is deplorable, insensitive, and detrimental to our community — particularly during the current climate. These remarks by Kimberly and Beck were clearly racist and should not be on the airwaves.”

But like Ponder, RABJ members want to see much more beyond just the firings.

"This type of behavior will not be tolerated, particularly among the black community," said Rashad J Smith, a creative consultant based in Rochester, who is also a RABJ member.

In addition to an apology, Smith said he wants to see iHeartRadio fill the now-vacant slot with a diverse radio host. He also wants to see improved diversity training at the station, which would include sharing training materials with the public.

“I’m also a radio personality and I push the limits, but you better believe I think twice before I speak out publicly about other people and communities,” said Smith, who broadcasts Sunday mornings on The Beat 105.5.

Smith noted that Ray and Beck felt comfortable enough in their surroundings to broadcast offensive rhetoric when thousands of people were listening. “Imagine what’s going on in the break room or at lunchtime when no one is listening.”

Tianna Mañon, RABJ secretary, also said while the firings are a necessary first step, they are simply not enough.

“There needs to be serious intent from leadership to put out and support anti-racist content that actually dispels these stereotypes,” she said. “Hiring hosts and producers of different backgrounds certainly helps, but we also need white coworkers and peers to step up and unlearn these harmful ideologies.”

On Wednesday, Alexis Arnold, who anchors Good Day Rochester on ABC affiliate 13WHAM, took to Twitter to express the deep hurt caused by racism, which she wrote "is very real and still exists." She added that as a black journalist, recent events are affecting her in ways she never thought possible.

"I often have to report the news and keep my emotions in check," she continued. "Today, I can't do that. I had to leave the set to avoid crying on air. I'm upset and deeply disturbed."

Later by phone, she declined to comment specifically on Ray and Beck, but she said that welling up with emotion during Wednesday's broadcast was more the result of "everything that's been happening," including "seeing George Floyd’s death play out on video and hearing his cries over and over" and watching footage of the mother of Floyd's young daughter. "It just hit me," she said, "and I’m grateful that my directors and producers allowed me that time and gave me that space."

Sharing her feelings on Twitter was therapeutic, she said. "I usually don't want to put myself out there. But I needed people to know how I was feeling. On camera, we are often smiling and laughing. It was tough to laugh today."

And tough right now to find hope. "I know it’s there and I will continue to look for it. Yet here we are at 2020, dealing with the same battles that my parents dealt with. ... I don’t like to see the pain people are going through. I recognize that pain and feel that pain, too."