CLEVELAND, OH – The annual National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention began this week in downtown Cleveland at the Huntington Convention Center. Among the dozens of discussions, panels, and events that are taking place during this year’s convention are the author showcases. Black authors, many of whom were former journalists, have the opportunity to discuss their work in front of convention attendees. The books are for sale in the room where the discussions occur, but the talks about why the authors decided to tell the stories are equally important.
For Trymanine Lee, a former reporter at the Philadelphia Tribune early in his journalism career, and later a reporter for NBC News, telling his and his family’s story was important. His new book, ‘A Thousand Ways to Die: The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America,’ wasn’t due out till September, but he managed to secure a few copies for his author showcase at NABJ on Friday, August 8. Those books were also for sale, and by the time he was done being interviewed by Denise Clay-Murray, herself an author and journalist with the Philadelphia Hall Monitor, the books were all gone from the shelves and in the hands of convention-goers looking to get them signed by Lee.
“I always wanted to be a part of the author showcase at NABJ,” Lee said.
During his hour-long discussion, Lee talked about his career, his inspiration for the book, and having a heart attack in 2017 in his late 30s. A father and husband, the latter forced Lee to come face to face with death, he says.
“From the very beginning, this book was different,” he said. “I had to be open and honest.”
When asked what his career as a journalist meant to the reporting of this book, Lee said everything. Working for the Black Press, the New York Times, and NBC prepared Lee to dig deep for this project.
“It’s been the toughest thing I’ve done in my career,” Lee said. “There is great beauty in our survival.”
Former Philadelphia Inquirer editorial page editor and columnist Harold Jackson retired from everyday journalism a few years ago, but still freelances from time to time. His 40-year career was the basis of his new book, an autobiography, ‘Under the Sun: A Black Journalist’s Journey’. Jackson was interviewed by one of his former charges, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Melanie Burney. The discussion felt like one part old friends catching up, and one part journalism workshop.
Jackson was asked if there should be even more books like ‘Under the Sun’ by veteran Black Journalists in order to share stories and experiences, and Jackson said, “Anyone who thinks they have a story to tell they should tell it,” he said.
During the scheduled half-hour discussion that went over by few minutes, Jackson shared stories of working at small newspapers such as the Birmingham Post-Herald, wire services like United Press International (UPI), and big daily newspapers like the Inquirer and the Baltimore Sun. Jackson had ups and downs throughout his career and those stories on Thursday.
“This book is a story of a journalist in America, said Jackson.
Burney asked Jackson about chapter 28 of the book, “Need to get out of Philly, again” and about transitioning to a more digital way of covering news after decades as a print journalist.
Jackson said his book is a journalism book, but “it’s about death, it’s a story about religion, the book encompasses all of that,” he said. “It’s the journalism story that’s most important.”
American University professor and former Columbus Dispatch reporter Dr. Sherri Williams talked about her new book, ‘Black Social Television,’ and why she decided to work on it, her first. Williams told the audience that Black television shows play an important role in this country’s zeitgeist and need to be reported on, especially now.
“I think this is an anti-intellectual era,” Williams said.
When asked what she learned as a journalist that helped her report and write ‘Black Social Television,’ Williams said, “How to do research and deadline writing.”
Other author showcases featured books on the career of Jayne Kennedy Overton, the life of Malcom X by the late Les Payne and his daughter Tamara Payne, a fictional title by USA Today columnist Suzette Hackney, and a children’s book by Christel Bell.
