Lerone Bennett, Jr.
| Lerone Bennett, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Bennett in October 1973 | |
| Born |
October 17, 1928 Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Writer |
Lerone Bennett, Jr. (born October 17, 1928) is an African-American scholar, author and social historian, known for his analysis of race relations in the United States. His best-known works include Before the Mayflower and Forced into Glory.
Early life and education
Bennett was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on October 17, 1928, the son of Lerone Bennett, MR. and Alma Reed. When he was young, his family moved to Jackson, Mississippi.
Bennett graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He has noted this time was integral to his intellectual development. Mr. Bennett is also a distinguished member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Career
Bennett is most notable for his decades as executive editor for Ebony Magazine, to which he was promoted in 1958. It has served as his base for the publication of a steady stream of articles on African-American history, some of them collected into books.
In addition Bennett has written several books, including numerous histories of the African-American experience. These include his first work Before the Mayflower: A History of Black America, 1619–1962 and Forced into Glory: Abraham Lincoln's White Dream. The former discusses the contributions of African Americans in the United States. The latter questions President Abraham Lincoln's role as the "Great Emancipator".
Bennett is sourced as the creator of the phrase "Image Sees, Image Feels, Image Acts." Meaning the images we see, influence how we feel and ultimately how we act.
Personal life
He married Gloria Sylvester on July 21, 1956. They had four children together: Alma Joy, Constance, Courtney, and Lerone III.
Legacy and honors
- 2003 – Carter G. Woodson Lifetime Achievement Award from Association for the Study of African American Life and History[1]
- 1978 – Literature Award of the 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
Honorary degrees from Morehouse College, Wilberforce University, Marquette University, Voorhees College, Morgan State University, University of Illinois, Lincoln College, and Dillard University.
Bibliography
- Pioneers in Protest : Black Power U.S.A.
- The Shaping of Black America
- Before the Mayflower: A History of Black America, 1619–1962 (1962)
- What Manner of Man: A Biography of Martin Luther King
- Confrontation: Black and White (1965)
- Black Power U.S.A.: The Human Side of Reconstruction 1867–1877 (1967)
- Pioneers In Protest (1968)
- The challenge of Blackness (1972)
- Wade in the Water: Great Moments in Black History (1979)
- Forced into Glory: Abraham Lincoln's White Dream (2000), Johnson. Publ. Co.
References
- ↑ Wayne Dawkins, "Black America's popular historian: Lerone Bennett Jr. almost retired after 50 years at Ebony...", Black Issues Book Review, Jan–Feb 2004, accessed 25 My 2009
External links
- Bennett's biography
- Lerone Bennett, Jr.'s oral history video excerpts at The National Visionary Leadership Project
- Booknotes interview with Bennett on Forced Into Glory, September 10, 2000.