Black broadcasters

Louis E. Lomax’s contributions to journalism are both noteworthy and historic. Beyond introducing much of white America to the unflinching Blackness of Nation Of Islam spokesperson Malcolm X, Lomax was the first Black man to work as a television journalist. Born August 16, 1922 in Valdosta, Ga., Louis Emanuel Lomax attended Paine College in Augusta […]

The late Don Cornelius, with his distinctive baritone voice, was the creator and host of the long-running dance show, “Soul Train.” The Chicago native was born September 27, 1936. Donald Cortez Cornelius was born in the South Side and raised in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood. After serving in the Marines, Cornelius was honorably discharged after […]

The late Rev. William E. Summers III was a pioneering figure in Black radio in the state of Kentucky. In 1967, he became the first Black person to manage a radio station in the United States, and in 1971 he was the first Black person in Kentucky to own a station. Born in 1918, Rev. […]

NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBA star Kenny Smith and his wife Gwendolyn, who works as a model on “The Price is Right,” are the latest heads of a reality TV family. “Meet the Smiths,” which premieres at 9 p.m. EDT Friday on TBS, invites cameras into their Encino, California, home where they’re raising five […]

As reported earlier, ESPN’s Stuart Scott died Sunday morning at the age of 49 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The sports TV personality leaves behind two daughters, an ex-wife and a girlfriend. Scott also left behind a body of work that appealed to a lot of fans: the everyday man and plenty of boldface names […]

Broadcaster Max Robinson blazed trails for journalists everywhere by becoming the first African-American newscaster to anchor for a major network. Robinson was also the first Black news anchor to work in Washington, D.C. The Richmond, Va. native achieved these feats all while being a vocal proponent of fighting racial injustice in America. Born May 1, […]

I’m a fanatical football fan. And I’m also a huge fan of Pam Oliver. For nearly two decades, I’ve watched Oliver talk football on Fox television I’ll miss her sideline analysis, real-time insights, and conversational halftime interviews with the NFL’s top players. I watched with pride as Oliver, a skilled African-American journalist, excelled in a […]