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Updated: Monday, December 24, 2007
Published: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 |
Remembering Vernon Jarrett (1918-2004)
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 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 Americas 10 largest newspapers, The Chicago Tribune, he was paradigm of excellence. The words of Francis Bacon, the 16th century philosopher, sums Vernon up: 'If a man be gracious and generous to strangers and his heart is not an island cutoff from other lands, but joined to all continents, he is a citizen of the world.' Vernon was a magnificent citizen of the world.
Chuck Stone
NABJ President
1975-1977
Among Vernons 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 Vernons call to run for NABJ president all those years ago. Now that Vernon is no longer able to personally remind us of our mission as an organization and our duty as black journalists, well have to rely on our own consciousness and our own voice. Maybe if every single one of us takes up his baton, well 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.
Bob Reid
NABJ President
1979-1981
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.
Les Payne
NABJ President
1981-1983
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 (NABJ),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.
Merv Aubespin
NABJ President
1983-1985
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.
Al Fitzpatrick
NABJ President
1985-1987
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 ...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 oaf grit. His departure from this life leaves a gaping hole in the ranks of those men and women who are true champions of our race.
DeWayne Wickham
NABJ President
1987-1989
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.
Thomas Morgan III
NABJ President
1989-1991
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.
Sidmel Estes-Sumpter
NABJ President
1991-1993
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.
Dorothy Butler Gilliam
NABJ President
1993-1995
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. Ill 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 well ever know. I loved him and will miss him dearly.
Arthur Fennell
NABJ President
1995-1997
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....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 ofus; sometimes we didn't and Vernon loved us anyway. The next time we gather, we wont have to conjure up Vernons spirit. He will already be with us.
Vanessa Williams
NABJ President
1997-1999
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, hell 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.
William W. Sutton Jr.
NABJ President
1999-2001
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. Wed 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
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.
Herbert Lowe
NABJ President
2003-2005
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Foreword
