Journalism needs Palmers and Jarretts

Chicago Defender Editorial on why Journalism needs more Palmers and Jarretts for the 21stcentury:

In the last four months, the Black journalism world, andChicago in particular, lost two esteemed colleagues inVernon Jarrett and Lu Palmer. The latter died Sunday nightof pneumonia, and it was cancer that took the life of theformer in May.What made these two men remarkable wasn’t just theirability to take the English language and use it to effectchange in this city, nation and world, but that they hadthe heart of great civil rights champions like FrederickDouglass, A. Philip Randolph and Martin Luther King Jr.Both men subscribed to the admonition of Douglass as helay dying, “Agitate! Agitate! Agitate!”What Palmer and Jarrett understood was that wielding thepen of a journalist or twirling the microphone was aweapon that could not treated lightly. Instead, they madeit a point to wield their work tools to cultivate andnurture a growing political, social and economic movementthat has produced one of the smartest, richest and mostpolitically connected generation this city and nation hasever seen. They championed the causes that needed to bediscussed; held Black leadership accountable to themasses; and wasn’t willing to back down when confrontingthe white political and business establishment, even totheir personal detriment.But what may be so sad about their deaths is that themission that they stood for may also die with them. Today,the fire and passion that seemed to ooze from their bodiesis missing in most of today’s Black journalists. No longerare Black journalists limited to honing their craft inplaces like the Chicago Defender, Los Angeles Sentinel,Houston Informer or the countless other Black newspapersthat told the stories that were ignored or marginalized inmainstream media. Now, Black journalists flock to majordaily newspapers and magazines that 40 years ago would’vetrashed their resumes. Listening to many of these samejournalists, it seems that they choose to cloak themselvesin objectivity and distance when discussing their roles asjournalists. Some even go as far as removing themselvesfrom any active participation in Black causes. While it isabsolutelyimportant that stories be presented with balance, fairnessand from a position of facts, that doesn’t mean a sense ofidentity and purpose must also be cast aside in the nameof journalism.Whether it is accepted or not, Black journalists mustcontinue to serve a vital role in ensuring that “our”stories are treated with respect and dignity in mainstreammedia, as well advocate fiercely when those they are beingignored. If they don’t speak up and speak out, then thelikelihood that the interests of Black America being leftout is likely.If Black journalists wish to show proper respect to thelikes of Lu Palmer and Vernon Jarrett, don’t bother withgrand speeches, scholarship funds, and memorials. Pick upthe baton they have sogently carried and run a good race for the next generationof crusading journalists.