Louis Lomax
Encyclopedia
Louis E. Lomax was an African-American journalist
and author. He was also the first African-American television journalist.
. He attended Paine College
in Augusta, Georgia
, where he became editor of the student newspaper before he graduated in 1942. He pursued graduate studies at American University
, where he was awarded an M.A.
in 1944, and Yale University
, where he earned a Ph.D.
in 1947.
Lomax was married three times. His first wife was Betty Frank (1958–1961), his second was Wanda Kay (1961–1967), and his third was Robinette Kirk (1968–1970).
, two newspapers focused on news of interest to African-American readers. In 1958, he became the first Black television journalist when he joined WNTA-TV
in New York
.
In 1959, Lomax told his colleague Mike Wallace
about the Nation of Islam
. Lomax and Wallace produced a five-part documentary about the organization, The Hate That Hate Produced
, which aired during the week of July 13, 1959. The program was the first time most white people
heard about the Nation, its leader, Elijah Muhammad
, and its charismatic spokesman, Malcolm X
.
Lomax later became a freelance writer, and his articles were published in publications such as Harper's
, Life Pageant, The Nation
, and The New Leader
. His subjects included the Civil Rights Movement, the Nation of Islam, and the Black Panther Party
. In 1961, he was awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for his book The Reluctant African.
From 1964 to 1968, Lomax hosted a twice-weekly television program on KTTV
in Los Angeles
. Lomax also spoke frequently on college campuses.
Lomax was a supporter of several civil rights organizations, including the Congress of Racial Equality
(CORE), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
(SNCC), and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
(SCLC). In 1968, he signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
when the brakes on his car failed near Santa Rosa, New Mexico
. At the time, he was working on a documentary concerning the role played by the FBI in death of Malcolm X. According to Washington Post
staff writer Karl Evanzz, Lomax's death may have been connected to the documentary. At the time of his death, Lomax had a 141-page FBI file.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and author. He was also the first African-American television journalist.
Early years
Lomax was born in Valdosta, GeorgiaValdosta, Georgia
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 54,518. The Valdosta metropolitan area, according to the 2010 estimate, has a population of 139,588...
. He attended Paine College
Paine College
Paine College is a private Historically Black college located in Augusta, Georgia.-Mission:The Mission of Paine College, a church-related private institution, is to provide a liberal arts education of the highest quality that emphasizes academic excellence, ethical and spiritual values, social...
in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, where he became editor of the student newspaper before he graduated in 1942. He pursued graduate studies at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, where he was awarded an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1944, and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he earned a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1947.
Lomax was married three times. His first wife was Betty Frank (1958–1961), his second was Wanda Kay (1961–1967), and his third was Robinette Kirk (1968–1970).
Career
Lomax began his journalism career at the Afro-American and the Chicago DefenderChicago Defender
The Chicago Defender is a Chicago based newspaper founded in 1905 by an African American for primarily African American readers.In just three years from 1919–1922 the Defender also attracted the writing talents of Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks....
, two newspapers focused on news of interest to African-American readers. In 1958, he became the first Black television journalist when he joined WNTA-TV
WNET
WNET, channel 13 is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey. With its signal covering the New York metropolitan area, WNET is a primary station of the Public Broadcasting Service and a primary provider of PBS programming...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In 1959, Lomax told his colleague Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (journalist)
Myron Leon "Mike" Wallace is an American journalist, former game show host, actor and media personality. During his 60+ year career, he has interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers....
about the Nation of Islam
Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam is a mainly African-American new religious movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930 to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African-Americans in the United States of America. The movement teaches black pride and...
. Lomax and Wallace produced a five-part documentary about the organization, The Hate That Hate Produced
The Hate That Hate Produced
The Hate That Hate Produced is a television documentary about the Nation of Islam. It was produced in 1959 by Mike Wallace and Louis Lomax.-Background:...
, which aired during the week of July 13, 1959. The program was the first time most white people
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
heard about the Nation, its leader, Elijah Muhammad
Elijah Muhammad
Elijah Muhammad was an African American religious leader, and led the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975...
, and its charismatic spokesman, Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Malcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
.
Lomax later became a freelance writer, and his articles were published in publications such as Harper's
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
, Life Pageant, The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
, and The New Leader
The New Leader
The New Leader was a political and cultural magazine begun in 1924 by a group of figures associated with the Socialist Party of America, including Eugene V. Debs and Norman Thomas, and published in New York by the American Labor Conference on International Affairs. Its orientation is liberal and...
. His subjects included the Civil Rights Movement, the Nation of Islam, and the Black Panther Party
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
. In 1961, he was awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for his book The Reluctant African.
From 1964 to 1968, Lomax hosted a twice-weekly television program on KTTV
KTTV
KTTV, channel 11, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Los Angeles, California. Serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, KTTV is a sister station to KCOP , Los Angeles' MyNetworkTV station...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Lomax also spoke frequently on college campuses.
Lomax was a supporter of several civil rights organizations, including the Congress of Racial Equality
Congress of Racial Equality
The Congress of Racial Equality or CORE was a U.S. civil rights organization that originally played a pivotal role for African-Americans in the Civil Rights Movement...
(CORE), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee ' was one of the principal organizations of the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. It emerged from a series of student meetings led by Ella Baker held at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina in April 1960...
(SNCC), and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is an African-American civil rights organization. SCLC was closely associated with its first president, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...
(SCLC). In 1968, he signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
Death
Lomax died in a car accidentCar accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
when the brakes on his car failed near Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Santa Rosa is a city in and the county seat of Guadalupe County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,744 at the 2000 census. It lies between Albuquerque and Tucumcari, situated on the Pecos River at the intersection of Interstate 40, U.S. Route 54, and U.S. Route 84...
. At the time, he was working on a documentary concerning the role played by the FBI in death of Malcolm X. According to Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
staff writer Karl Evanzz, Lomax's death may have been connected to the documentary. At the time of his death, Lomax had a 141-page FBI file.
Selected works
- The Reluctant African (1960)
- The Negro Revolt (1962)
- When the Word Is Given: A Report on Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X, and the Black Muslim World (1963)
- Thailand: The War That Is, The War That Will Be (1967)
- To Kill a Black Man: The Shocking Parallel in the Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. (1968)