Oral history interview with Simeon Booker, 1971

Terms of Use: The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the reproduction is not to be used for any purpose other than your own private study, scholarship, or research. Any subsequent copying, downloading or distributing materials accessed by you in the Columbia University Libraries Digital Libraries Collection that are subject to copyright protection may constitute copyright infringement. In addition, Columbia University Libraries may employ technical measures to prevent any further copying, downloading, or distribution of the materials. A violation of these terms may subject you to potential liability for copyright infringement. For more information about copyright, fair use and permissions, refer to Columbia University Library’s Copyright Advisory Services at https://copyright.columbia.edu, and the Copyright & Permissions for Online Exhibitions & Digital Collections.

Name: Booker, Simeon, 1918-2017 (Interviewee); La Brie, Henry G (Interviewer)
Title: Oral history interview with Simeon Booker, 1971
Other Titles: Reminiscences of Simeon Booker : oral history, 1971; Oral history of Simeon Booker, 1971
Abstract: Booker discusses his early interest in journalism and his selection as a Nieman Fellow in Journalism at Harvard University. He describes his experience as the first black reporter at the Washington Post during a time of segregation in the capital city, his experience opening a Washington Bureau for Johnson Publishing Company, Inc., the differences between the black press and the daily press, both i n resources and content, how the focus of the black press influences the entire industry; and his book, Black Man’s America (1964). Other topics of discussion include Booker’s coverage of the 1960 presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy, the influence of the black press on black communities, the importance of black ownership in all communication medias, how the black press contributed to social changes and the Civil Rights movement, the ownership of black newspapers, and the regional and community orientation of black newspapers.
Collection Name: Black Journalists oral history collection
Subjects: Journalists; African American press; African American journalists; Newspaper publishing--Economic aspects--United States; African Americans--Civil rights; Advertising--Newspapers; United States Race relations; Booker, Simeon, 1918-2017; Washington Post Company; Johnson Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Format: oral histories
Genre: Interviews
Date: 1971

Physical Description: sound files : digital preservation master, WAV files (96kHz, 24 bit); 30 pages
Note (Biographical): Simeon Booker was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 27, 1918. In 1952 Booker became the first full-time black reporter for The Washington Post. He is best known for his coverage of events during the Civil Rights era, including the 1955 murder of E mmett Till, in Jet and Ebony magazines. He was the director of the Washington Bureau for Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. for 51 years until his retirement in 2007. Throughout his career, Booker was honored with numerous awards, including a Newspaper Guild Award, a Wilkie Award, the National Press Club’s 1982 Fourth Estate Award, and induction into the National Association of Black Journalists’ Hall of Fame.
Note: Interviewed by Henry G. La Brie III on July 2, 1971.
Note (Provenance): Henry G. La Brie III Gift, 1975
Language: English
Library Location: Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University
Browse Location’s Digital Content
Catalog Record: 11562894
Also In: Oral History Archives at Columbia; Time-Based Media; Time-Based Media
Persistent URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-2b97-sc29
Related URLs: Available digital content for this interview.