Black History Month and Beyond
Black History Month and Beyond documents and preserves the stories of those courageous African American journalists who broke into general circulation media during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s.
The project launched in 1999 with The Caldwell Journals, a personal account of the black journalists' movement written by legendary reporter and columnist Earl Caldwell. The online serial recounts the influence of that generation of journalists on the news and newsrooms across the country.
Caldwell was the only reporter present when Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. He also fought the federal government's attempts to appropriate his confidential notes and to force him to spy on the Black Panther Party, which he was covering for The New York Times. That battle reached the Supreme Court, where the government won. However, the case created the rationale for state-enacted "shield laws," protecting reporters' notes from government seizure.
These stories and others are included in the second phase of the Black History Month and Beyond, an oral/video collection that further elaborates on the journalists' experiences in their own words. In collaboration with The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center in New York, the Institute has completed 20 interviews that include Ed Bradley, of "60 Minutes," Charlayne Hunter-Gault, of CNN, and Institute co-founder Nancy Maynard. Funding for the project was provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The personal stories demonstrate the value of diverse voices in our nation's newsrooms and present a more "whole" account of American journalism. The project also helps ensure that all aspiring journalists of color know who came before them.
The Institute plans to document the stories of journalists from other ethnic groups who broke general circulation barriers in the news media.
- Cheryl Dorsey: A Woman Making History
- Clottey Was Outboxed, Outclassed by Pacquiao
- It?s Time for Black Leaders to Lead
- What?s Your Piercing?
- Pacquiao Defeats Clottey in Unanimous Decision
- Clottey Still Overweight; Pacquiao Ready At 146
- links for 2010-03-13
- Kim Knowlton: A Woman Making History
- Taking a Bite Out of the Census
- Filipino Americans Ask US to Monitor Philippine Elections
Come join Sally Lehrman, a professor and journalist who writes regularly on race, gender and identity issues and Maynard Institute President Dori J. Maynard as we talk about the best and worst of media coverage and diversity. Add comments and give us your thoughts.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The Maynard Institute gears up for its coming celebration of Black History Month
Based on the late Robert C. Maynard's belief that the five fault lines of race, class, gender, generation and geography are the most enduring forces shaping lives, experiences and social tensions in this country, the Maynard Institute's Fault Lines framework helps journalists build a more diverse source list, have more voices in stories and determine which fault lines are at work in complex issues.
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Black History Month and Beyond documents and preserves the stories of those courageous African American journalists who broke into general circulation media during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s. [more...]









