National Association of Black Journalists - Remembering Vernon Jarrett

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National Association
of Black Journalists
Located at the
UNIVERSITY
OF MARYLAND
8701-A Adelphi Road
Adelphi, Md.
20783-1716

(301) 445-7100
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A Salute to Vernon Jarrett
from NABJ’s Presidents

All of NABJ’s 3,600 members celebrate the life and legacy of Vernon Jarrett, the association’s president from 1977-1979 and one of its 44 founding members, who died on May 23, 2004, in Chicago, succumbing to cancer. In tribute to Vernon, each of the other 14 men and women to have served as NABJ president offer thoughts on the man who was a mentor, friend, advisor, inspiration … and so much more.

Chuck Stone NABJ President 1975-1977	“Vernon Jarrett and I go back more than 50 years. We were very close friends and I will miss his wonderful, irreverent sense of humor. He was more than a multitalented journalist. He was a reporter, columnist, author, television show host and founder of the NAACP program, ACT-SO (Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics), which rewarded young journalists. As one of NABJ’s 44 founders, he was also its second president and guided the organization through an immediate increase in members. He endowed all of us with professional credibility and, true to his crusading background, was a relentless fighter against racism in the majority media. Yet by writing a popular column in one of America’s 10 largest newspapers, The Chicago Tribune, he was paradigm of excellence. The words of Francis Bacon, the 16 th century philosopher, sums Vernon up: ‘If a man be gracious and generous to strangers and his heart is not an island cut off from other lands, but joined to all continents, he is a citizen of the world.’ Vernon was a magnificent citizen of the world.”

Bob Reid NABJ President 1979-1981	“When Vernon ’s term as NABJ president was coming to an end, he asked me to run for president. Not until much later did I realize that one of the main reasons he encouraged me to take on the leadership of the then four-year-old organization was because he thought that having a broadcast journalist at the helm would help broaden its base and increase its membership. In his own insightful way, Vernon also knew how crucial broadcast news was in shaping the political and cultural dialogue about race and in creating either negative or positive images of black people. Among Vernon ’s lasting legacies, which I have tried to embrace, are the following: Always remain true to your principles, be willing to stand up for the truth and never forget that you earn the right to criticize through hard work in the trenches, not as spectator on the sidelines. It was in that spirit that I accepted Vernon’s call to run for NABJ president all those years ago – to do what I could to help build the organization, rather than complain about what it had not done. Now that Vernon is no longer able to personally remind us of our mission as an organization and our duty as black journalists, we’ll have to rely on our own consciousness and our own voice. Maybe if every single one of us takes up his baton, we’ll be half as effective as our now departed guiding spirit. Surely his legacy will be fulfilled through every young journalist who remembers his name and embraces the truths of which he spoke so forcefully and elegantly.”

Les Payne NABJ President 1981-1983	“Two hours away from my Founder's Day lecture at Stillman College , I phoned Vernon Jarrett for the exact language of the Alabama slave law that forbade the teaching of blacks to read. Vernon quickly coughed up the 1848 law carrying a $200 fine, imprisonment and public lashing. I hit the podium that Sunday in 1998 with a scholarly sheen Vernon had been polishing, with mixed results, since I met the Chicago columnist in 1975. We soldiered together that year, Vernon and me, a Tennessee veteran and a Tuscaloosa rookie, helping to organize NABJ. He gave the group its intellectual compass and served as its second president. Through NABJ – and all the others, especially Trotter – Vernon force-fed a generation of journalists the lessons of Russwurm, Sojourner, Wells, Douglass, Trotter, and God knows, W.E.B. DuBois. Vernon went young enough into journalism, but like Satchel Paige, and for the same peculiar reason, he hit the major leagues at the turning of his leaves. At 51, he became the first black columnist at The Chicago Tribune. Still, as an enfant terrible on Chicago radio and TV, Vernon sustained a triple-threat career for more than three decades. He is gone away now, Vernon Jarrett, and we are all on our own. ‘Research,’ I can still hear him imploring the Trotter Group, with that nasal, Tennessee lilt. ‘You can't write a column without hours and hours of research.’ I can think of no better way to honor Vernon than to grab a book and spend an extra hour each night at the lamp.”

Merv Aubespin NABJ President 1983-1985	“I’m filled with sadness because we’ve lost a pioneer. And also a dear friend. Vernon was special. He was unique and he was indeed one of a kind. He loved black journalists, black people and the National Association of Black Journalists, and he was always willing to give the young folks and a lot of the older folks a history lesson on the pioneers who came before us and made a difference. I considered him a mentor, as well as many others within our organization, and his support during my presidency was extremely important as we attempted to take the organization to another level. He will be sorely missed. But the world will know that he passed by.”

Al Fitzpatrick NABJ President 1985-1988	“Vernon Jarrett was a great journalist and humanitarian. He never minced his words when he discussed African American issues or the direction of NABJ. I respected him for that. He will be missed because he was a true soldier on the battlefield for equality and fairness.”

DeWayne Wickham NABJ President 1987-1989	"Vernon Jarrett was more than my friend and mentor. He was my bridge to a time long past – my link to the legendary black journalists of the Harlem Renaissance era. Like Langston Hughes and W.E.B. DuBois, two great black literary figures with whom he once worked, Vernon was a race man. He used journalism as a way of ensuring that the achievements of blacks would never be forgotten, and the struggles of blacks would never be ignored. More than just a journalist, Vernon was also an historian whose late-night stories about the places he'd been and the people he’d met were told with the rhythmic voice and unquestionable authority of a griot. His departure from this life leaves a gaping hole in the ranks of those men and women who are true champions of our race.”

Thomas Morgan NABJ President 1989-1991	“No one could ever clear a public meeting of mendacity like dear Vernon Jarrett. Vernon was fearless and taught me early on that right is might. I’m sorry now that I never told him that I considered him a mentor to me. From him, I learned passion toward NABJ. He showed me what NABJ could be and, what it ought to be. Aside from NABJ however, Vernon loved his people. Everything he wrote or spoke about exhibited an abiding love for black folks, especially the young. A titan has passed and his influence will be felt for many years. I will miss his candor and his humor.”

Sidmel Estes-Sumpter NABJ President 1991-1993	“When I spoke to Vernon on the phone at the beginning of April, I told him, ‘I love you,’ when I said goodbye. He said, ‘I love you, too.’ Despite his weakened state making it uncomfortable for him to see me in person, we spent more than a half hour on the phone. As usual, Vernon asked his pointed questions like, ‘What is NABJ doing?’ ‘What is Unity going to do for us?’ Typical Vernon – and then we went on to discuss how to solve all the problems of the world and the challenges facing his beloved NABJ. While he didn’t think he would be recovered enough to attend the Unity convention, Vernon said that he didn’t want to miss the 30th anniversary next year in Atlanta . Vernon will definitely still be with us here in Atlanta . I celebrate the life of my friend, mentor and inspiration ... Vernon Jarrett. His uncompromising, fearless voice and thirst for excellence made him an icon in our industry. He inspired me as a student at Northwestern and continued to be my close confidant and running partner through my NABJ days. I will miss Vernon . But his spirit and fire will continue to live through me.”

Dorothy Butler Gilliam NABJ President 1993-1995	“Vernon could be quite the curmudgeon when he talked about the challenges and the triumphs of his beloved NABJ. His eyes unfailingly lit up like stars, however, when he talked passionately of the NAACP ACT-SO, which he founded. That was arguably one of his greatest achievements in a life of star-studded accomplishments. He was steeped in the past even as he embraced the future. His enthusiasm for procuring opportunities for black youth was part of my inspiration these past few years as I’ve worked to involve more news media companies as partners with high schools in order to attract more minorities into journalism. Vernon encouraged, loved and challenged us. He made us proud to be African Americans and journalists. I loved and admired him. I’m happy that his spirit will live on in all of us whose lives he touched – but especially in those black youth who might never have had opportunities to succeed had it not been for this race man who loved so deeply.”

Arthur Fennell NABJ President 1995-1997	“When I presented Vernon Jarrett with my President’s Award at our Chicago convention, I called him a ‘true Renaissance man.’ Here was a man equally skilled and effective in print, radio and television in communicating matters of critical importance to our people and our community. His unwavering dedication and commitment to our industry knew no boundaries – and he was ours. Vernon was NABJ’s keeper of the flame. He applauded our successes and scolded our failures, but like a good parent, he kept his arms around us and always let us know that we mattered. I’ll remember him not only as a warrior for our cause but as a prolific journalist and educator whose power and passion have shaped more public opinion and motivated more minds than we’ll ever know. I loved him and will miss him dearly.”

Vanessa Williams NABJ President 1997-1999	“I will never forget the time during the banquet at the Philadelphia convention that Vernon swept up everyone in the packed ballroom to join him in conjuring up the spirits of W.E.B. DuBois, Ida B. Wells, William Monroe Trotter and other great ancestors. He began clapping and urged the audience to join him. At first, some giggled, but soon enough, the laughing stopped as our hands striking together in unison, created a loud, rhythmic beat – like African drums. Some members would later say how moving the experience had been. Vernon was always reminding us, if not haranguing us, to uphold NABJ’s intellectual, cultural and activist roots. Sometimes we did that and Vernon was so proud of us; sometimes we didn’t and Vernon loved us anyway. The next time we gather, we won’t have to conjure up Vernon’s spirit. He will already be with us.”

Will Sutton NABJ President 1999-2001	“Vernon Jarrett was a lion of a man, protective of his beloved NABJ and NAACP as if each and every one of us was one of his cubs. Like a proud lion, he had strong beliefs about what was right, what was wrong and how we should fulfill our duties to the organization and each other. Like a proud lion, he would roar because he knew he would be heard, because he knew he would get attention for a just cause and, yeah, sometimes, for effect. Like a proud lion, he wouldn’t show his caring, loving, tender side to just anyone until they had proven that they were committed to the cause and committed to his people. But caring, loving and tender he was. I feel fortunate to have earned some of his love, to have sat with him to discuss matters large and small and to have gained a great appreciation for a strong dedication to our people. Vernon may have left this world. But because of the many lives he touched and the many times he roared on behalf of me and so many other black journalists and black folk, he’ll never be forgotten. And he’ll always be remembered as an aggressive agitator who used the camera, pen and microphone to make his points heard loud and clear as he sought change for the betterment of all mankind, but, frankly, particularly for we black folk.”

“Vernon Jarrett was like the grandfather I never had. I so looked forward to seeing him at convention because he’d greet me with a big, warm bear hug and plant a sloppy, wet kiss on my cheek. Then he would school me about the history of NABJ. I am honored to count him among my mentors. He knew to call in the early evening, as the day was winding down to tell me about DuBois and the NAACP. We’d talk about NABJ and black journalists and he’d lament how so few of our members really know our history, and how the conventions had become more showbiz than substance. Vernon loved NABJ and wanted so much more for us! Vernon Jarrett was not only the conscience of NABJ; he was also the soul of NABJ. The man may be gone, but his spirit lives in those whom he touched. We owe it to his legacy to share his spirit and convictions with those who were not so blessed.” Condace Pressley NABJ President 2001-2003
Herbert Lowe NABJ President 2003-2005	“NABJ meant everything to Vernon Jarrett, and he meant all that and so much more to NABJ. Just as important, what Vernon meant to black journalists, meant to black America, meant to America, meant to journalism, meant to Chicago, meant to the world will never be forgotten. There simply can be no overstating his legacy.”

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Vernon Jarrett Links

NABJ-Chicago will dedicate the June meeting to its beloved president, Vernon Jarrett. There will be a special tribute reception held on Wednesday, June 16, 2004, at 6 p.m. at NBC Tower , 454 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago. Ebony magazine executive editor and historian Lerone Bennett Jr. will be the featured speaker at "Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Vernon Jarrett." Dorothy Tucker is producing a special video presentation. Journalism pioneers, those who credit Vernon with having a hand in their success as a journalist, and students are among invited guests. For more information, check www.nabjchicago.org.)

NABJ Links

Essay in “Committed to the Cause: A Salute to NABJ’s Presidents”

NABJ Celebrates the Life and Legacy of Past President Vernon Jarrett

NABJ Presidents Salute Vernon Jarrett

President Herbert Lowe Represents NABJ at Vernon Jarrett’s Services

Vernon Jarrett: An Obituary

Read (& Sign) NABJ’s Guestbook

Headlines

Chicago Tribune (Editorial):
More than a witness to history

Services set for groundbreaking journalist

Columnist Jarrett 'can't be replaced'

Vernon Jarrett; Journalist, Crusader