The Black Press and the Black Pulpit

Jackie Hampton, Mississippi Link publisher and Mistress of Ceremonies for Press & Pulpit breakfast introduced Rev. William Barber - Torch Award recipient

“Pleading the cause for black America”

NNPA Newswire

Jackie Hampton, Mississippi Link publisher and Mistress of Ceremonies for Press & Pulpit breakfast introduced Rev. William Barber - Torch Award recipient

With a history of 186 years, the Black Press continues to carry the torch to “Plead the Cause” of Black America. Members of The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) also known as “The Black Press of America” celebrated its annual Black Press Week in the Nation’s Capital.

Publishers, journalists and friends of the Black Press came together from across the nation and observed Black Press Week at the Washington Marriott Hotel at Metro Center in Washington DC from March 13 – March 15.  The NNPA Foundation planned this event which attendees said was a great success.

Foundation Chair Karl Rodney, publisher of the New York Carib News, said he was extremely pleased with this year’s event.

“I appreciate all the hard work and dedication which the members of the foundation contributed to make certain this year’s Black Press week was a success,” said Rodney

Activities during the week included a Black Press and Pulpit breakfast sponsored by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, a visit to the White House to meet with key government officials and the state of the Black Press Luncheon held at the National Press Club. Each of these events included panel participants addressing crucial topics.

The Black Press and the Black Pulpit participants pledged to form an initiative to tackle the growing problems in the black community such as disparities in education, health, employment and violence toward youth and children.

Kevin Lewis, director of African-American Media for the White House welcomed the publishers of NNPA to the White House where Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education gave keynote remarks. A panel discussion on White House policy briefing included Marie Johns, SBA deputy administrator, Danielle Gray, assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary, James Kvaal, deputy director of Domestic Policy, Portia Wu, special assistant to the President for Labor and Workforce Issues, and Jay Williams, deputy for Intergovernmental Affairs. Closing remarks were made by Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the President.

“The Black Press – Truth to Power – The Path” was the theme for the State of the Black Press Luncheon. Jineea Butler, founder of the Social Services of Hip Hop and the Hip Hop Union said that Hip Hop could use the support of The Black Press and that their young group needed to be taken seriously and not looked upon in a negative way.

A Torch Awards Dinner was held at the Marriott where Jarrett was honored as Newsmaker of the Year.  Other recipients received special awards throughout the week.

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