Lerone Bennett Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lerone Bennett Jr.
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Bennett in his office at Johnson Publishing Company headquarters, 1973. Photo by John H. White.
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| Born | October 17, 1928 Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Died | February 14, 2018 (aged 89) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
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| Years active | 1949–2018 |
| Known for | Before the Mayflower (1962) Forced into Glory (2000) |
| Spouse(s) |
Gloria Sylvester
(m. 1956; died 2009) |
| Children | 4 |
Lerone Bennett Jr. (born October 17, 1928 – died February 14, 2018) was an important African-American writer, historian, and scholar. He studied and wrote about race relations in the United States. Some of his most famous books are Before the Mayflower (1962) and Forced into Glory (2000), which was about U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.
Bennett grew up in Mississippi and went to Morehouse College. He served in the Korean War before starting his career in journalism. He worked for the Atlanta Daily World and then for Johnson Publishing Company. Later, he became the executive editor of Ebony magazine, where he worked for over 50 years. Bennett also taught history at Northwestern University.
Contents
About Lerone Bennett Jr.
Early Life and Education
Lerone Bennett Jr. was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on October 17, 1928. His parents were Lerone Bennett Sr. and Alma Reed. When he was young, his family moved to Jackson, Mississippi. His father was a chauffeur and his mother was a maid. They divorced when he was a child.
At age twelve, Bennett started writing for The Mississippi Enterprise. This was a newspaper in Jackson, Mississippi, owned by Black people. He remembered getting into trouble once for reading a newspaper instead of doing an errand. He went to segregated schools and graduated from Lanier High School.
Bennett then attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. There, he was classmates with Martin Luther King Jr.. He graduated in 1949. Bennett felt that this time at college was very important for his learning and ideas. He also joined the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Journalism and Writing Career
After college, Bennett served as a soldier during the Korean War. Later, he continued his studies. He worked as a journalist for the Atlanta Daily World from 1949 to 1953. He also worked as a city editor for JET magazine from 1952 to 1953. Both JET and Ebony magazines were started by John H. Johnson.
In 1953, Bennett became an associate editor at Ebony magazine. By 1958, he was the executive editor. Ebony became his main place for publishing many articles. These articles were often about African-American history. Some of his articles were later put together and published as books.
In 1954, Bennett wrote an article called "Thomas Jefferson's Negro Grandchildren." This article was about people in the 20th century who said they were related to Thomas Jefferson and his slave, Sally Hemings. This brought Black oral history into public discussions. For a long time, this relationship was denied by Jefferson's family. However, new studies and a DNA test in 1998 showed that Jefferson likely had a relationship with Hemings. It is now widely accepted that he was the father of her children.
Bennett also taught history as a visiting professor at Northwestern University. He wrote several books about the African-American experience. His first book, Before the Mayflower: A History of Black America, 1619–1962 (1962), talks about the important contributions of African Americans in the United States from its early days.
His 2000 book, Forced into Glory: Abraham Lincoln's White Dream, questioned Abraham Lincoln's role as the "Great Emancipator." This book caused some debate among historians. Bennett is also known for the phrase: "Image Sees, Image Feels, Image Acts." This means that the pictures and ideas people see can change how they feel and what they do.
Lerone Bennett Jr. lived in Kenwood, Chicago for many years. He passed away at his home on February 14, 2018, at the age of 89.
Family Life
Lerone Bennett Jr. was a Catholic. He married Gloria Sylvester (1930–2009) on July 21, 1956. They met while working together at JET magazine. They had four children: Alma Joy, Constance, Courtney, and Lerone III (1960–2013).
Awards and Recognition
Lerone Bennett Jr. received many awards and honors for his work:
- 2003 – Carter G. Woodson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History
- 1978 – Literature Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters
- 1965 – Patron Saints Award from the Society of Midland Authors
- 1963 – Book of the Year Award from Capital Press Club
- 1982 – Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women
- He also received honorary degrees from several universities, including Morehouse College, Marquette University, and the University of Illinois.
