Roland S. Martin
Encyclopedia
Roland Sebastian Martin (born November 14, 1968) is an American journalist and syndicated columnist
with Creators Syndicate
and author of Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America, Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith and The First: President Barack Obama's Road to the White House as originally reported by Roland S. Martin.
Martin is a commentator for TV One and the host of Washington Watch with Roland Martin, a one-hour Sunday morning news show on the network. He is also a CNN
contributor, appearing on a variety of shows, including Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull, The Situation Room
, Anderson Cooper
's AC360, Lou Dobbs Tonight
, and many others. In October 2008, he joined the Tom Joyner Morning Show
as senior analyst.
, where he attended Jack Yates High School. In 1987, he entered Texas A&M University
on an academic scholarship, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1991. In May 2008, he earned a master's degree in Christian Communications at Louisiana Baptist University
, a primarily religious, non-accredited institution
. Martin pledged the Pi Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity in 1989.
During the 1990s, Martin was a contributor on the BET
Sunday morning news program Lead Story. He is the former executive editor of the Chicago Defender
. Martin hosts a morning radio talk show on WVON
in Chicago
, and in March 2007, he joined CNN
as a contributor. He guest-hosted Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull while Brown was on maternity leave in April and May 2009.
Martin has defended Michael Steele and other black Republicans against charges of being "Uncle Toms"
, arguing that the label is inappropriate.
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
with Creators Syndicate
Creators Syndicate
Creators Syndicate is an independent distributor of comic strips and syndicated columns for daily newspapers. It was founded in 1987 by Richard S. Newcombe, and is based in Los Angeles. Creators was one of the first syndicates to allow its clients to maintain creative control of their material...
and author of Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America, Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith and The First: President Barack Obama's Road to the White House as originally reported by Roland S. Martin.
Martin is a commentator for TV One and the host of Washington Watch with Roland Martin, a one-hour Sunday morning news show on the network. He is also a CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
contributor, appearing on a variety of shows, including Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull, The Situation Room
The Situation Room
The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer is an afternoon/early evening newscast on CNN and CNN International hosted by Wolf Blitzer that first aired on August 8, 2005. The show replaces three politics and hard news programs: Judy Woodruff's Inside Politics, Crossfire and Wolf Blitzer Reports.At first,...
, Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper
Anderson Hays Cooper is an American journalist, author, and television personality. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360°. The program is normally broadcast live from a New York City studio; however, Cooper often broadcasts live on location for breaking news stories...
's AC360, Lou Dobbs Tonight
Lou Dobbs Tonight
Lou Dobbs Tonight is an American editorial commentary and discussion program hosted by Lou Dobbs, previously broadcast on CNN and currently on Fox Business Network. The hour-long show aired live on evenings every weekday, and was replayed in the overnight/early morning hours. It covered the major...
, and many others. In October 2008, he joined the Tom Joyner Morning Show
Tom Joyner Morning Show
The Tom Joyner Morning Show is a nationally-syndicated program, featuring host Tom Joyner and a team of comedians and commentators reporting and discussing the latest news and sports of the day, playing popular R&B songs from the 1970s through the 1990s as well as contemporary R&B hits, and an...
as senior analyst.
Career
Martin was born in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, where he attended Jack Yates High School. In 1987, he entered Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
on an academic scholarship, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1991. In May 2008, he earned a master's degree in Christian Communications at Louisiana Baptist University
Louisiana Baptist University
Louisiana Baptist University is an accredited theologically conservative Christian university, founded in 1973, located at 6301 Westport Avenue in Shreveport, Louisiana....
, a primarily religious, non-accredited institution
Unaccredited institutions of higher learning
Unaccredited institutions of higher education are colleges, trade schools, seminaries, and universities which do not have formal educational accreditation....
. Martin pledged the Pi Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity in 1989.
During the 1990s, Martin was a contributor on the BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
Sunday morning news program Lead Story. He is the former executive editor of the Chicago Defender
Chicago 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....
. Martin hosts a morning radio talk show on WVON
WVON
WVON is a radio station licensed to Berwyn, Illinois, serving the greater Chicago area, airing an African-American-oriented talk format. WVON is managed by Midway Broadcasting Corporation, via a local marketing agreement with frequency owner Clear Channel Communications. Civil rights leaders the...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and in March 2007, he joined CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
as a contributor. He guest-hosted Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull while Brown was on maternity leave in April and May 2009.
Martin has defended Michael Steele and other black Republicans against charges of being "Uncle Toms"
Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom is a derogatory term for a person who perceives themselves to be of low status, and is excessively subservient to perceived authority figures; particularly a black person who behaves in a subservient manner to white people....
, arguing that the label is inappropriate.
Articles
- "What would Jesus really do?"
- "The new reality for Bush and the Democrats"
- "Obama Birth Issue is Nutty"
- "Roland Martin is on Watch"
External links
- Roland S. Martin official website
- Roland Martin Features on Ascots at Creators SyndicateCreators SyndicateCreators Syndicate is an independent distributor of comic strips and syndicated columns for daily newspapers. It was founded in 1987 by Richard S. Newcombe, and is based in Los Angeles. Creators was one of the first syndicates to allow its clients to maintain creative control of their material...
- Podcasts of Martin's recent articles
- TV ONE website for Washington Watch with Roland Martin