Les Payne facts for kids

Leslie "Les" Payne (born July 12, 1941 – died March 19, 2018) was an important American journalist. He worked as an editor and writer for the newspaper Newsday. Les Payne also helped start the National Association of Black Journalists. This group supports African American journalists.

Payne won a Pulitzer Prize for his amazing investigative work. After he passed away, his book about Malcolm X, called The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X, won the 2020 National Book Award for Nonfiction. His daughter, Tamara Payne, helped finish this important book.

About Les Payne

Early Life and Education

Les Payne was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 1941. When he was 13, he moved to Hartford, Connecticut, with his mother. He was the first person in his family to go to college.

In 1964, Payne graduated from the University of Connecticut. He earned a degree in English. He really wanted to be a journalist. However, it was hard for African Americans to get jobs in major newspapers at that time.

Military Service

Because journalism jobs were scarce, Payne joined the United States Army. He became a Captain. He spent two years as an information officer. In this role, he wrote speeches for a general and managed the army's newspaper.

Journalism Career

After his time in the army, Newsday hired Les Payne in 1969. He started as an investigative reporter. This meant he looked deeply into important stories.

In 1975, Payne and other African American media professionals created the National Association of Black Journalists. This organization helps and supports black journalists. Payne later became the fourth president of this group.

Payne reported from South Africa in 1976 during the Soweto Uprising. This was a time when young people protested against unfair laws. His reporting was so good that it was considered for a Pulitzer Prize. Even though he was not allowed in South Africa, he went back in 1985. He wanted to show how things had changed there.

In 1980, Payne began writing a weekly column for Newsday. A column is like a regular article where a writer shares their opinions. His columns were very strong and made people think. They were so powerful that they sometimes caused a lot of debate.

Payne held many important roles at Newsday. He was the national editor and an assistant managing editor. He oversaw news about health, science, and investigations. His teams won many journalism awards, including six Pulitzer Prizes.

Les Payne retired from Newsday in 2006. But he kept writing his column until 2008.

Later Work and Awards

After retiring, Payne worked on a biography of Malcolm X. This book was published in 2020. It was called The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X. His daughter, Tamara Payne, helped a lot with the research. She finished the book after her father passed away.

The book won the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2020. It also won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2021. The book is known for giving new insights into Malcolm X's life.

See also

• French Connection