Harry McAlpin facts for kids

Harry S. McAlpin (1906-1985) was an important American reporter. He made history as the first African-American reporter to attend a U.S. Presidential news conference. This happened in 1944.

Early Life and Education

Harry McAlpin was born on July 21, 1906. His hometown was St. Louis, Missouri. He was interested in writing and news from a young age. He went to the University of Wisconsin. There, he studied journalism and advertising. He graduated from college in 1926.

Starting His Career

After college, McAlpin moved to Washington, D.C.. This is the capital city of the United States. From 1926 to 1929, he worked for the Washington Tribune. This was an African-American weekly newspaper. He was a reporter, editor, and office manager. Later, he worked in publicity and advertising. This was for the National Benefit Life Insurance Company.

Working for Change

In 1933, the New Deal programs began. These programs aimed to help Americans during the Great Depression. McAlpin joined a group called the New Negro Alliance. This group worked to protect jobs for African Americans. He also worked for government agencies. These included the Federal Security Agency and the U.S. Employment Service.

While working, he also studied law at night. He attended the Robert H. Terrell Law School. In 1937, he passed the bar exam. This meant he could practice law. He then became an assistant to Mary McLeod Bethune. She was a leader in African-American affairs. McAlpin also worked as a part-time reporter. He wrote for Chicago Defender.

Breaking Barriers at the White House

In 1943, a group called the National Negro Publishers Association (NNPA) wanted their reporters to attend White House press conferences. At that time, only reporters from daily newspapers could get special passes. Most African-American newspapers were weeklies. The Atlanta Daily World was a daily paper. The NNPA argued that its reporter should be allowed in.

The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) agreed. After some time, the NNPA opened an office in Washington. They hired Harry McAlpin as their full-time reporter. On February 8, 1944, he attended his first presidential press conference. President Franklin D. Roosevelt greeted him. He shook McAlpin's hand and welcomed him. This was a very important moment. It showed progress for African-American journalists.

Challenges and Later Life

Even after his success at the White House, McAlpin faced challenges. He tried to get a pass to report from Congress. But he was turned down. The committees in charge said he mostly reported for weekly papers. McAlpin believed this was because of his race. He felt it was unfair.

Later, McAlpin moved to Louisville, Kentucky. He became an assistant commonwealth attorney. This meant he worked as a lawyer for the state. He was the only African American in this role. He resigned in 1953. After that, McAlpin became a leader in the NAACP in Louisville. The NAACP is a civil rights organization. Harry McAlpin passed away on July 18, 1985.

Legacy and Recognition

Harry McAlpin's pioneering work was honored after his death. On May 3, 2014, the White House Correspondents Association recognized him. They created a scholarship in his memory. President Barack Obama also spoke about McAlpin's important contributions to journalism. His courage helped open doors for many others.