Jarrett, Vernon Daurice

1918-2004 · Contribution: 1946-1995

Columnist; broadcaster

Became the first African American syndicated columnist at both the Chicago Tribune (1970) and the Chicago Sun-Times (1983), writing nearly 4,000 columns over a 50-year career and co-founding the National Association of Black Journalists in 1975

Press & Photography: collage image
Press & Photography

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Quick facts

Born
1918, Saulsbury, Tennessee
Active since
1946
Category
Press & Photography
Best known for
First Black syndicated columnist at both major Chicago dailies; NABJ co-founder

Impact on the world

Jarrett broke the columnist color line at Chicago's major papers and built lasting institutions, NABJ and ACT-SO, while helping engineer Harold Washington's election as the city's first Black mayor.

An alternative history

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Sources

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