Max Robinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Max Robinson
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Robinson on ABC World News Tonight, 1979.
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| Born |
Maxie Cleveland Robinson, Jr.
May 1, 1939 Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
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| Died | December 20, 1988 (aged 49) Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Cause of death | Complications from AIDS |
| Resting place | Lincoln Memorial Cemetery Suitland, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | Indiana University Oberlin College Virginia Union University |
| Occupation | Television journalist |
| Years active | 1959–1985 |
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Notable credit(s)
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First African–American broadcast news anchor, ABC World News Tonight. |
| Spouse(s) |
Eleanor Booker
(m. 1963; div. 1968)Beverly Hamilton
(m. 1977; div. 1985) |
| Children | 4 |
| Family | Randall Robinson (brother) |
Maxie Cleveland "Max" Robinson, Jr. (born May 1, 1939 – died December 20, 1988) was an American journalist. He was best known for being a co-anchor on ABC World News Tonight from 1978 to 1983. Max Robinson made history as the first African-American person to anchor a national network news program in the United States. He also helped start the National Association of Black Journalists.
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Max Robinson's Early Life and Education
Max Robinson was born in Richmond, Virginia. He was one of four children. His parents were Maxie and Doris Robinson, both teachers. When Max was growing up, schools in Richmond were still segregated. This meant Black and White students went to separate schools.
After finishing Armstrong High School, Max went to Oberlin College. He was even elected president of his freshman class. However, he only stayed there for about a year and a half. He later joined the United States Air Force. He studied the Russian language at Indiana University for a short time. Max started working in radio very early in his career. He worked at stations like WSSV-AM and WANT-AM in Virginia.
Max Robinson's Journalism Career
Max Robinson began working in television in 1959 at WTOV-TV in Portsmouth, Virginia. At first, he had to read the news from behind a slide of the station's logo. This was because of the time's racial attitudes. One night, Max decided to remove the slide and show his face. He was fired the next day for doing this.
He then moved to WRC-TV in Washington, D.C., where he worked for three years. During this time, he won six awards for his reporting on civil rights events. He also won two regional Emmys for a documentary called The Other Washington, which showed Black life in Anacostia. In 1969, Max joined WTOP-TV (now WUSA-TV) in Washington, D.C. He became the first African-American anchor on a local TV news show, working with Gordon Peterson. Their news program became very popular.
Max Robinson at ABC News
In 1978, Roone Arledge wanted to change ABC News' nightly broadcast into World News Tonight. He remembered Max Robinson and hired him. Max became part of a new three-anchor team. Max would report national news from Chicago. Peter Jennings would cover international news from London, and Frank Reynolds would be the main anchor from Washington. This made Max Robinson the first Black man to anchor a nightly network news broadcast.
The three-anchor team was very successful and popular with viewers. Max Robinson was known for speaking up against racism in the news. He also helped create a program to guide young Black journalists, working with Bob Strickland.
After Frank Reynolds passed away in 1983, Peter Jennings became the only anchor of World News Tonight. Max Robinson then became the weekend anchor and read hourly news updates. He left ABC in 1983. In March 1984, he joined WMAQ-TV in Chicago, becoming the station's first Black anchor. He retired from journalism in 1985.
Max Robinson's Family Life
Max Robinson was married three times and had four children. His first marriage was to Eleanor Booker from 1963 to 1968. They had three children: Mark, Maureen, and Michael. His second marriage was to Hazel R. O'Leary from 1974 to 1975. His last marriage was to Beverly Hamilton from 1977 to 1986. They had a son named Malik. Max Robinson was also the older brother of Randall Robinson, who was a well-known activist.
Max Robinson's Health and Passing
In 1988, Max Robinson became ill and was hospitalized. He passed away on December 20, 1988, in Washington, D.C.. He had asked his family to share the reason for his passing. This was so that others in the Black community would learn about the importance of health awareness and education. He was laid to rest at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland.
Images for kids
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Robinson on ABC World News Tonight, 1979.
