Benjamin Holman facts for kids

Benjamin F. Holman (1930 – January 20, 2007) was an important American journalist and government official. He was known for being one of the first well-known African-American reporters in the country. Later, he worked to help solve disagreements between different groups of people.

Holman was born in Columbia, South Carolina. When he was four years old, his father passed away. His mother then moved with him and his sister to Bloomfield, New Jersey. As a young person, he dreamed of mixing his love for writing, music, and engineering to create musical theater. But before he finished high school, he decided he wanted to be a journalist instead.

Education and Early Career

Benjamin Holman went to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. He then moved to the University of Kansas, where he studied journalism. He was a very good student and graduated at the top of his class. After that, he continued his studies at the University of Chicago.

A Pioneering Journalist

After finishing his education, Holman worked as a reporter for the Chicago Daily News. He also worked for CBS News, which is a major television news company. During this time, he became one of the few famous black journalists in the United States. This was a big step forward for diversity in news reporting.

Working in Government

After his time as a journalist, Holman spent eight years working for the United States government. He worked for the presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. His job was to be the director of community relations. In this role, he helped to solve problems and arguments between different racial groups. This was a very important job that helped bring people together.

High-Ranking Official

Holman also served as the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department. This meant he was a very high-ranking official in the government. At that time, he was the highest-ranking African-American person in the Justice Department. His work helped make sure that justice was fair for everyone.

Teaching and Later Life

In 1979, Benjamin Holman started teaching at the University of Maryland, College Park. He joined the journalism department there. He played a big part in shaping the university's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. He helped teach and inspire many new journalists.

Holman retired from teaching in 2004. He passed away on January 20, 2007, at George Washington University Hospital. He was 76 years old. Benjamin F. Holman is remembered for his important work in journalism and his efforts to improve community relations in the government.