Lynn Norment facts for kids

Lynn Norment is an American journalist from Bolivar, Tennessee. She is famous for working at Ebony magazine for 30 years. She wrote and edited many stories for the magazine. In 2009, she was honored by the National Association of Black Journalists and added to their Hall of Fame.

About Lynn Norment

Lynn Norment was the third of nine children in her family. Her mother, Esther, was a licensed nurse. Her father, Alex, owned a local repair shop called Norment's Radio and TV.

When Lynn was in elementary school, she attended Bolivar Industrial Elementary. This was a segregated school, meaning it was only for African American students. Later, she went to a vocational school. There, she joined the school newspaper and the Beta Club.

In 1969, something big happened in Tennessee. African American students in Bolivar were allowed to transfer to the mostly white Bolivar High School. Lynn Norment was one of the students who helped integrate the school, meaning she helped bring students of different races together. She graduated in 1970.

Lynn Norment then went to Memphis State University. She earned a degree in journalism. While in college, she worked as an intern for The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis. Today, she lives in the South Loop area of Chicago, Illinois.

Her Career in Journalism

After college, Lynn Norment moved to Chicago. She started working as a freelance writer for Ebony Magazine. Over the years, she has worked with many famous people. These include actors like Denzel Washington and Will Smith. She also worked with singers like Whitney Houston. She even worked with sports stars like Michael Jordan and public figures like Barack Obama. Eventually, she became the managing editor of Ebony.

Norment also took on important roles for the National Association of Black Journalists. For example, she was the chairperson for their convention in Chicago in 1977.

Today, Lynn Norment is a board member of Habilitative Inc. This group helps people in need on the West side of Chicago. She has also taught college classes at Columbia College Chicago. She enjoys mentoring young journalists. Lynn Norment has also started her own company. It helps individuals and businesses with media and writing services.

Her Work at Ebony

Lynn Norment is best known for her 30 years of writing for Ebony Magazine. She wrote about many different topics. These included religion, business, relationships, and social issues. She also wrote about lifestyle topics.

Historical Context

Lynn Norment grew up in Bolivar, Tennessee, during a time of segregation. This meant there were separate schools for African Americans and White Americans. Segregation became formal after the Reconstruction Era ended in 1877. Laws called Jim Crow laws kept Black people, and later Mexican Americans and Native Americans, from going to the same schools as white individuals. These laws also affected other public places like churches, bathrooms, and movie theaters.

However, in 1969, schools in Tennessee began to integrate. This allowed African American students to transfer to schools that were mostly white. Lynn Norment was one of the students who helped with this important change.

Later, she moved North to Chicago. There, she began working for Ebony Magazine. John H. Johnson founded the magazine in Chicago in 1947. It is a monthly magazine created for the African American community. Ebony has always focused on African American issues and interests. It aimed to stay positive, even when things seemed difficult. For many years, Ebony featured ads specifically for its readers. These ads showed Black models and promoted products from Black-owned businesses.

Awards and Recognition

• NABJ Hall of Fame (2009)
• Memphis State University Department honored Norment as Outstanding Journalism Alumna (1991)

The NABJ Chicago chapter also created a scholarship in her name. It is called the Lynn Norment Scholarship Fund.

See also

• National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame