Black journalists chronicle 50 years of organizational advocacy and being heard in American newsrooms
Marking a milestone in American media history, “Black and Golden: 50 Years of the National Association of Black Journalists, 1975–2025,” offers a richly documented and visually stunning look into the organization that transformed the face of journalism in the United States.
Edited by acclaimed journalist and educator Wayne Dawkins, “Black and Golden” celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), which was founded Dec. 12, 1975, in Washington, D.C. to challenge an industry that was “overwhelmingly a White, male juggernaut.”
The book brings together eminent scholars and veteran reporters to reflect on the NABJ’s history and growth – starting with 44 Black journalists in 1975 to its more than 4,000 members today. Using original essays, the book’s first half provides a nuanced examination of some of the organization’s pivotal moments, such as former Los Angeles Times reporter Gayle Pollard-Terry’s essay on the internal debates over membership expansion, particularly regarding public relations professionals.
Terry’s opening line, “It started with a hard ‘No’!” leads readers into a journey that goes from strong words and hurt feelings to dedicated work and softening stances over five decades of ups and down still yet to be fully resolved for many within the organization.
Veteran journalist and editor Cheryl Devall’s essay follows a similar thread over the relationship between the NABJ and Black photojournalists. She quotes Fred Sweets, who began his decades-long career as a staff photographer in the 1960s, as comparing photojournalists in those early days to the comedian Rodney Dangerfield because of his catchphrase “I don’t get no respect.” From there the chapter details NABJ’s fight for parity among their peers in print journalism.
Bonnie Newman Davis, an acclaimed journalist, educator and author in her own right, is a longtime NABJ member and former NABJ board member. She chronicles the creation of the NABJ’s Arts and Entertainment (A&E) Task Force – formed following controversial and misogynistic remarks from Bushwick Bill during the organization’s 1993 convention in Houston.
An iconic clapback, “Is that what you call your mother?” came from attendee Karyn Collins, then an entertainment reporter for the Asbury Park Press in Neptune, New Jersey. With tensions high, then NABJ President Madame Sidmel Estes-Sumpter stepped in, securing an apology of sorts from the Jamaican-born rapper.
Davis delves into some of the early accomplishments of the A&E Task Force led by Collins, its founding chair. Demonstrating NABJ’s mantra of teaching and training emerging journalists, Davis collaborated with one of her former North Carolina A&T State University journalism students, Kimberly Fields, to highlight some of the task force’s more recent works and its direction moving forward.
Other essays examine how journalists covering politics, sports and business, as well as academic educators and researchers, have worked to carve out their own niches within the NABJ. Each essay is written by industry professionals with decades of experience to draw on.
The second half of “Black and Golden” is described by Dawkins as “a book within a book.” It chronicles the NABJ’s 21st-century history and walks readers through the organization’s activities involving the Sept. 11 attacks, the War on Terror, the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement and the presidential elections of Donald Trump. High-resolution, full-color photography throughout the book provide the NABJ’s five decades of journalism, activism and community a sharper focus.
“Black and Golden” has been called “a nuanced, visually appealing celebration of a pillar of American journalism” by Kirkus Indie. It stands as a historical record and a testament to the power of collective advocacy in reshaping American media
“Black and Golden: 50 Years of the National Association of Black Journalists, 1975–2025” is available through Amazon, Apple Books, augustpress.biz, and major book retailers.
Contact:
Wayne Dawkins: wjdawkins@gmail.com
BLACK AND GOLDEN:
FIFTY YEARS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS, 1975–2025
Edited by Wayne Dawkins
ISBN: 9780979168673 | 408 pages | Full Color
Publisher: August Press LLC, Suffolk, Virginia
About the National Association of Black Journalists
Founded in 1975, NABJ is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation, dedicated to strengthening ties among Black journalists, sensitizing media to the importance of diversity and expanding employment and educational opportunities in journalism and media-related fields.
Sadeqa Johnson returns with ‘Keeper of Lost Children’
In this new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve, one American woman’s vision in post WWII Germany will tie together three people in an unexpected way.
Ethel Gathers, the proud wife of an American Officer, is living in Occupied Germany in the 1950s. After discovering a local orphanage filled with the abandoned mixed-race children of German women and Black American GI’s, Ethel feels compelled to help find these children homes.
Philadelphia born Ozzie Phillips volunteers for the recently desegregated army in 1948, eager to make his mark in the world. While serving in Manheim, Germany, he meets a local woman, Jelka, and the two embark on a relationship that will impact their lives forever.
In 1965 Maryland, Sophia Clark is given an opportunity to attend a prestigious all white boarding school and escape her heartless parents. While at the school, she discovers a secret that upends her world and sends her on a quest to unravel her own identity.
Toggling between the lives of these three individuals, Keeper of Lost Children explores how one woman’s vision will change the course of countless lives, and demonstrates that love in its myriad of forms—familial, parental, and forbidden, even love of self—can be transcendent.
——AMAZON
From Sadeqa:
Many of the events require advance registration and tickets, so please click on Tour Schedule to get all the details. I’ll be joined by some incredible conversation partners, including Victoria Christopher Murray, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Sharon Kurtzman, and Tanya Sam, to name a few. I’m dropping the links for the first week here as well:Richmond, Washington D.C., New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Hampton. For additional cities, please visit my events page.
Pre-Order Exclusive VIP Experience with Sadeqa on Jan 28th, 7pm
As promised, I’m hosting a very special zoom VIP Experience on January 28, 2026 at 7pm EST, exclusively for my most loyal book clubs, readers, and friends. Your pre-order book receipt or your ticket to one of my upcoming events will grant you access. You don’t want to miss this special sneak preview of all things Keeper of Lost Children. Plus, I will be giving away a few very special prizes to my VIP attendees. You don’t want to miss this!
To join me for the VIP Experience, do the following:Follow me on INSTAGRAMEmail a photo of your pre-order receipts or ticket to tour event to sadeqabookstores@gmail.com. Please type VIP in the subject line. Then include your name, email address, and photo of receipt in the email.Tell five friends about Keeper of Lost Children and invite them to do the steps above and join us too!If you haven’t pre-ordered your book yet, you are in luck. Here are a few of my favorite independent bookstores happy to assist you, Uncle Bobbies, 44th and 3rd, Resist Booksellers, . And they will ship you a signed copy. Audio lovers, you can pre-order your audio copies here!
Give the Gift of Music This Holiday Season
— Carmen Fields, author—
“Going Back to T-Town: The Ernie Fields Territory Big Band” is more than a book — it’s a journey through jazz history, family resilience, and the soundtrack of an era that refuses to be forgotten.
Whether they love music, history, or a powerful family story, this book is a timeless gift that will stay with them long after the last page.
#JazzHistory #BlackHistory #CarmenFields #ErnieFields #BooksToGift #MeaningfulGifts #theSwingEra #OKPop#TulsaOK #BigBandmusic
Available at:
Amazon (and Audible), Barnes & Noble, OUPress.com
Discover Black Literary Excellence
Your Ultimate Hub for Black Books and Voices
Dive into a vibrant world of Black literature, where stories, perspectives, and creativity flourish. Our platform celebrates Black authors, brings you the latest book releases, in-depth reviews, exclusive author interviews, and coverage of premier book festivals. From emerging voices to established literary giants, we’re your comprehensive resource for exploring, understanding, and championing Black literary culture. Connect with groundbreaking narratives, join dynamic book discussions, and stay informed about the most exciting developments in Black writing today.
Here’s a list of book festivals scheduled for 2026.
(Source African American Literature Book Club)
https://aalbc.com/events/list.php
- JAX Urban Book Festival
Thursday, January 22, 2026 to Saturday, January 24, 2026 – Jacksonville, Florida - Sunshine State Book Festival
Saturday, January 24, 2026 – Gainesville, Florida - F.R.E.S.H. Book Film Festival
Thursday, January 29, 2026 to Saturday, January 31, 2026 – Daytona Beach, Florida - Savannah Book Festival
Thursday, February 5, 2026 to Sunday, February 8, 2026 – Savannah, Georgia - African American Children�s Book Fair
Saturday, February 7, 2026 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Winter Institute
Monday, February 23, 2026 to Thursday, February 26, 2026 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - AWP Conference & Bookfair
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 to Saturday, March 7, 2026 – Baltimore, Maryland - Sacramento Book Festival
Sunday, April 19, 2026 – Sacramento, California - IBPA Publishing University
Thursday, May 14, 2026 to Saturday, May 16, 2026 – Portland, Oregon - Gaithersburg Book Festival
Saturday, May 16, 2026 – Gaithersburg, Maryland - Sunbelt Book & Art Expo
Saturday, June 13, 2026 – Fort Worth, TX - National Book Club Conference
Thursday, July 30, 2026 to Sunday, August 2, 2026 – Atlanta, Georgia - Black Authors Festival @SagHarbor
Saturday, August 1, 2026 – Sag Harbor, New York - Harlem Book Fair
Saturday, August 29, 2026 – New York, New York
Dive Deeper
BND Institute of Media & Culture 