Trailblazer A Pioneering Journalist S Fight To Make The Media Look More Like America

Dorothy Butler Gilliam, whose 50yearcareer as a journalist put her in the forefront of the fight for social justice, offers a comprehensive view of racial relations and the media in the U.S. Most civil rights victories are achieved behind the scenes, and this riveting, beautifully written memoir by a black first looks back with searing insight on the decades of struggle, friendship, courage, humor and savvy that secured what seems commonplace todaypeople of color working in mainstream media. Told with a pioneering newspaper writer s charm and skill, Gilliam s full, fascinating life weaves her personal and professional experiences and media history into an engrossing tapestry. When we read about the death of her father and other formative events of her life, we glimpse the crippling impact of the segregated South before the civil rights movement when slavery s legacy still felt astonishingly close. We root for her as a wife, mother, and ambitious professional as she seizes onceinalifetime opportunities never meant for a darkskinned woman and builds a distinguished career. We gain a comprehensive view of how the media, especially newspapers, affected the movement for equal rights in this country. And in this humble, moving memoir, we see how an innovative and respected journalist and working mother helped provide opportunities for others. With the distinct voice of one who has worked for and witnessed immense progress and overcome heartwrenching setbacks, this book covers a wide swath of media history from the era of gamechanging Negro newspapers like the Chicago Defender to the civil rights movement, feminism, and our current imperfect diversity. This timely memoir, which reflects the tradition of bootstrapping African American storytelling from the South, is a smart, contemporary consideration of the media.