Join us Jan. 26 for a “Truth Tellers”discussion

Featuring Bonnie Newman Davis, author of “Truth Tellers” and Diane Walker, former NBC 12 news anchor

Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960

“The first Black woman to run for vice president of the United States was Charlotta Bass – a journalist. That happened 70 years ago.

For nearly four decades before her 1952 run for the vice presidency, Bass was the crusading editor and publisher of the California Eagle, the largest Black-owned newspaper on the West Coast. But those who write the history of that time have largely forgotten—or simply ignored—Bass.

Bonnie Newman Davis’ book, Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960, tells the stories of 24 Black women whose journalism careers spanned the last forty years of the 20th century. They are print and broadcast journalists and, like Bass, courageously bore the burden of being a Black person in America’s newsrooms.

Norma Adams-Wade to Lynne K. Varner, Wanda Lloyd to Barbara Ciara, and Patrice Gaines to Sandra Daye Hughes, the stories Davis tells are of Black women journalists who took on the challenges of being what W.E.B. DuBois called the “two-ness” of being an American and Black.

These women aren’t household names. This book, hopefully, will change

that.”

DeWayne Wickham Journalist, Columnist and Founding Dean School of Global Journalism & Communication Morgan State University

Style Magazine Reviews “Truth Tellers”!

More about the author: Bonnie Newman Davis

Details: Thu, January 26, 2023, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM EST

Libbie Mill – Henrico County Public Library 2100 Libbie Lake East Street Richmond, VA 23230

*Light refreshments available!

Register on Eventbrite!!

Climbing Kilimanjaro

How much do you know about Mount Kilimanjaro? I must admit, before last Thursday, I knew two things: 1-it’s in Africa; and, 2-it’s one of the highest mountains in the world. Thanks to the BND Institute of Media and Culture and the Black History Museum, we were able to spend ‘An Evening on Kilimanjaro,’ featuring a man I’m honored to call friend and a true Renaissance Man, Robert L. Dortch, Jr. Robert wowed us with his enlightening story of successfully reaching the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. Moderated by the humorous Kym Grinnage, and featuring an introduction by my good friend and Tanzania-born and raised, Zarina Fazaldin, the event was simply inspirational. On average, only 50 percent of people who climb Mount Kilimanjaro reach the summit, and of that number, only 1percent are Black. And now all of Richmond can boast that we know someone in that 1percent!

Renee Walston Johnson

December12, 2022

Learn more about Mr. Dortch’s journey in this Nov. 3, 2022 Richmond Free Press article:

An Evening on Kilimanjaro: Richmond Free Press December 8, 2022.