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| 70th annual National Newspaper Publishers Association fêtes Hon. Charles Rangel and Berry GordyAudrey’s Society Whirl: |
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) was founded in 1940
when John H. Sengstacke of the Chicago Defender organized a meeting with
other African American publishers designed for “harmonizing our energies in a
common purpose for the benefit of Negro journalists.” The group decided to
form the National Negro Publishers Association.
In 1956, the trade association was renamed the National Newspapers
Publishers Association. Since World War II, it has also served as the industry’s
news service, a position that it has held without peer or competitor since the
Associated Negro Press dissolved in 1970.
Honoree U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, Danny J. Bakewell, Honoree Berry
Gordy, Walter Smith, Terry Jones
Today the NNPA is composed of more than 200 Black newspapers in the United
States and the Virgin Islands with a combined readership of 15 million and the
organization has created an electronic news service, BlackPressUSA.com web
site, which enables newspapers to provide real time news and information to
its national constituency.
America’s Black press returned to the historic roots of its founding – New York
City — where the NNPA held its 70th annual convention June 16-19, 2010 at
the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers that was attended by scores of
member publishers, civil rights leaders, community leaders and members of the
Congressional Black Caucus.
Themed ”Power to Influence Black America,” the four day convention, which
addressed major issues vital to Black America and the Black Press, was
attended by high profile national leaders including Marc H. Morial, president
and CEO of the National Urban League; Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., founder,
Rainbow PUSH; Benjamin Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP; Dr. Michael
Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund; Dr. Charles J.
Ogletree, Jesse Climenko Professor of Law, Harvard University; Kathy Times,
president, National Association of Black Journalists; Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights
activist and talk show host; and Dr. Bernice King, president-elect, Southern
Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
Thomas Watkins, Hon. David N. Dinkins, Honoree Berry Gordy, Danny J.
Bakewell, NYC Comptroller John C. Liu, Karl Rodney
The celebratory convention kicked off with the Chairman’s reception on
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at Macy’s Herald Square hosted by Macy’s senior
vice president, external affairs, Edward Jay Goldberg, and presented by the
Northeast Publishers Association.
The Hon. David N. Dinkins and New York City Comptroller John Liu were among
the politicians and distinguished guests in attendance at the gala. “This is a
must-go event,” said Liu. “We have a group of prestigious and well-known
African-American newspaper publishers from all across the country gathering
right here in New York City.”
“I think it’s tremendously important that this association has come together as
a group… We can go all the way back to 1909 when the NAACP came along
and there came a time when people said do we need a Black organization, and
they raised it about tenant organizations and golf organizations and now
publishers. Until we get a level playing field, we still need it,” offered Dinkins.
Mistress of Ceremonies Michelle Miller, Hon. Charles Rangel, Danny J.
Bakewell
The four-day summer convention culminated in the first annual Legacy of
Excellence awards dinner and awards presentation in which NNPA Chairman
Danny J. Bakewell presented esteemed Legacy awards to U.S. Congressman
Charles B. Rangel and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. The impressive
sculptured awards were cleverly created in the form of an eagle holding a
newspaper at its feet and a pen in the beak.
“I’m here tonight to make sure that all of you know that you are a part of
Motown’s great family,” said an emotional Gordy. “You, the Black Press, have
no idea how much your love and support meant to me and all of us at
Motown. At a time when we needed it most, you were there… and I never had
a chance to say this before… I know you’re here to honor me and I appreciate
that. But, tonight I’m here to honor you…,” Gordy concluded.
R&B crooner Eddie Levert & his band
Eddie Levert builds up a sweet performing a litany of his legendary songs
Organizers called Rangel one of the “pioneering, most effective and productive
African American legislative leaders in recent decades.” Rangel thanked the
organization for its tribute and for being on the frontlines of justice especially
when no one else would take up the mantle of defending the rights of African
Americans.
“The Black press has given voice to the otherwise voiceless and made visible
the otherwise invisible since the founding of the first Black newspaper in New
York City 283 years ago,” said Rangel. “Today, the NNPA continues to play a
major role in fighting on behalf of the African American community — under the
skillful and dynamic leadership of Los Angeles Sentinel publisher Danny
Bakewell. “
Rangel credited the Black press with nurturing the careers of thousands of
professionals in and around the journalism industry who were not afforded
opportunities at mainstream publications. He also credited their advocacy with
paving the road of success for African American legislative leaders like himself,
at every level of government.
“Without those journals, without those pioneering and courageous editors,
there would be no Congressional Black Caucus, no Deval Patrick in the State
House, and no Barack Obama in the White House,” said the 20-term
Congressman from Upper Manhattan. “Certainly, there might not have been a
Charlie Rangel.”
Rangel lamented how despite the achievements of African Americans in
mainstream society, recent economic and industry developments had left many
Black newspapers across the nation struggling to survive. He encouraged the
larger community to get involved supporting these courageous publications.
“Why is it that we have to struggle so hard to get our fair share of ad
revenues from the very governments we elect, the political parties we support,
and the industries that our people invest in so well,” said Rangel. “We need to
remind everyone — with our words and our wallets — that this country cannot
continue to improve and make good on the promise of our democracy without
a strong and vibrant Black press.”
”Both men represent excellence in achievement that is unmatched. They come
during a time when they set and achieved goals that prior to them people
never would have believed could be accomplished by Black people. They were
on the threshold of excellence much like the Black press was on the threshold
of excellence,” stated Bakewell.
“We think that they are befitting to be recognized as representatives of the
levels of achievement that occurs in our community all the time by people who
refuse to accept barriers as an excuse and accept other people’s opinions
about what we can do and can’t do,” Bakewell concluded.
CBS-TV’s Michelle Miller served as Mistress of Ceremonies and Eddie Levert,
lead singer of the mighty O’Jays, soared as the evening’s entertainment.
Levert had the old-schoolers dancing like there was no tomorrow to his
legendary sounds – “Backstabbers,” “Livin’ for the Weekend,” “For the Love of
Money,” and “Love Train.” Kudos to AT&T and Cadillac who partnered with the
NNPA to help make the convention a very successful endeavor. (Photos by
Ronnie Wright)
Audrey J. Bernard is an established chronicler of Black society and Urban
happenings based in the New York City area.
when John H. Sengstacke of the Chicago Defender organized a meeting with
other African American publishers designed for “harmonizing our energies in a
common purpose for the benefit of Negro journalists.” The group decided to
form the National Negro Publishers Association.
In 1956, the trade association was renamed the National Newspapers
Publishers Association. Since World War II, it has also served as the industry’s
news service, a position that it has held without peer or competitor since the
Associated Negro Press dissolved in 1970.
Honoree U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, Danny J. Bakewell, Honoree Berry
Gordy, Walter Smith, Terry Jones
Today the NNPA is composed of more than 200 Black newspapers in the United
States and the Virgin Islands with a combined readership of 15 million and the
organization has created an electronic news service, BlackPressUSA.com web
site, which enables newspapers to provide real time news and information to
its national constituency.
America’s Black press returned to the historic roots of its founding – New York
City — where the NNPA held its 70th annual convention June 16-19, 2010 at
the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers that was attended by scores of
member publishers, civil rights leaders, community leaders and members of the
Congressional Black Caucus.
Themed ”Power to Influence Black America,” the four day convention, which
addressed major issues vital to Black America and the Black Press, was
attended by high profile national leaders including Marc H. Morial, president
and CEO of the National Urban League; Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., founder,
Rainbow PUSH; Benjamin Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP; Dr. Michael
Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund; Dr. Charles J.
Ogletree, Jesse Climenko Professor of Law, Harvard University; Kathy Times,
president, National Association of Black Journalists; Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights
activist and talk show host; and Dr. Bernice King, president-elect, Southern
Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
Thomas Watkins, Hon. David N. Dinkins, Honoree Berry Gordy, Danny J.
Bakewell, NYC Comptroller John C. Liu, Karl Rodney
The celebratory convention kicked off with the Chairman’s reception on
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at Macy’s Herald Square hosted by Macy’s senior
vice president, external affairs, Edward Jay Goldberg, and presented by the
Northeast Publishers Association.
The Hon. David N. Dinkins and New York City Comptroller John Liu were among
the politicians and distinguished guests in attendance at the gala. “This is a
must-go event,” said Liu. “We have a group of prestigious and well-known
African-American newspaper publishers from all across the country gathering
right here in New York City.”
“I think it’s tremendously important that this association has come together as
a group… We can go all the way back to 1909 when the NAACP came along
and there came a time when people said do we need a Black organization, and
they raised it about tenant organizations and golf organizations and now
publishers. Until we get a level playing field, we still need it,” offered Dinkins.
Mistress of Ceremonies Michelle Miller, Hon. Charles Rangel, Danny J.
Bakewell
The four-day summer convention culminated in the first annual Legacy of
Excellence awards dinner and awards presentation in which NNPA Chairman
Danny J. Bakewell presented esteemed Legacy awards to U.S. Congressman
Charles B. Rangel and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. The impressive
sculptured awards were cleverly created in the form of an eagle holding a
newspaper at its feet and a pen in the beak.
“I’m here tonight to make sure that all of you know that you are a part of
Motown’s great family,” said an emotional Gordy. “You, the Black Press, have
no idea how much your love and support meant to me and all of us at
Motown. At a time when we needed it most, you were there… and I never had
a chance to say this before… I know you’re here to honor me and I appreciate
that. But, tonight I’m here to honor you…,” Gordy concluded.
R&B crooner Eddie Levert & his band
Eddie Levert builds up a sweet performing a litany of his legendary songs
Organizers called Rangel one of the “pioneering, most effective and productive
African American legislative leaders in recent decades.” Rangel thanked the
organization for its tribute and for being on the frontlines of justice especially
when no one else would take up the mantle of defending the rights of African
Americans.
“The Black press has given voice to the otherwise voiceless and made visible
the otherwise invisible since the founding of the first Black newspaper in New
York City 283 years ago,” said Rangel. “Today, the NNPA continues to play a
major role in fighting on behalf of the African American community — under the
skillful and dynamic leadership of Los Angeles Sentinel publisher Danny
Bakewell. “
Rangel credited the Black press with nurturing the careers of thousands of
professionals in and around the journalism industry who were not afforded
opportunities at mainstream publications. He also credited their advocacy with
paving the road of success for African American legislative leaders like himself,
at every level of government.
“Without those journals, without those pioneering and courageous editors,
there would be no Congressional Black Caucus, no Deval Patrick in the State
House, and no Barack Obama in the White House,” said the 20-term
Congressman from Upper Manhattan. “Certainly, there might not have been a
Charlie Rangel.”
Rangel lamented how despite the achievements of African Americans in
mainstream society, recent economic and industry developments had left many
Black newspapers across the nation struggling to survive. He encouraged the
larger community to get involved supporting these courageous publications.
“Why is it that we have to struggle so hard to get our fair share of ad
revenues from the very governments we elect, the political parties we support,
and the industries that our people invest in so well,” said Rangel. “We need to
remind everyone — with our words and our wallets — that this country cannot
continue to improve and make good on the promise of our democracy without
a strong and vibrant Black press.”
”Both men represent excellence in achievement that is unmatched. They come
during a time when they set and achieved goals that prior to them people
never would have believed could be accomplished by Black people. They were
on the threshold of excellence much like the Black press was on the threshold
of excellence,” stated Bakewell.
“We think that they are befitting to be recognized as representatives of the
levels of achievement that occurs in our community all the time by people who
refuse to accept barriers as an excuse and accept other people’s opinions
about what we can do and can’t do,” Bakewell concluded.
CBS-TV’s Michelle Miller served as Mistress of Ceremonies and Eddie Levert,
lead singer of the mighty O’Jays, soared as the evening’s entertainment.
Levert had the old-schoolers dancing like there was no tomorrow to his
legendary sounds – “Backstabbers,” “Livin’ for the Weekend,” “For the Love of
Money,” and “Love Train.” Kudos to AT&T and Cadillac who partnered with the
NNPA to help make the convention a very successful endeavor. (Photos by
Ronnie Wright)
Audrey J. Bernard is an established chronicler of Black society and Urban
happenings based in the New York City area.
| Legacy award recipient and history maker U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel |
| NY Beacon Society Columnist Audrey J. Bernard |