Vincent Tubbs
Encyclopedia
Vincent Tubbs was a leading African American
journalist, who became the first black person to head a motion picture industry union.
While a student at Morehouse College
, Vincent Trenton Tubbs was one of the founders of the Delta Phi Delta journalism fraternity. In March 1938, he launched National Negro Newspaper Week with Moss Kyles Kendrix and Bernard Milton Jones while they were newspaper editors of the Maroon Tiger at Morehouse College.
By the time Tubbs turned 26 years old, he had risen rapidly within the world of African American newspapers. While serving as bureau chief of the Richmond edition of the Norfolk Journal and Guide, P. B. Young, the paper's publisher, heard that Tubbs was talking to the Richmond Bureau chief of the Baltimore Afro-American
and fired him. Tubbs was quickly hired by the Afro-American at a substantial pay increase. While there, Tubbs was given the challenging assignment of covering lynching
s.
As a "lynch reporter," Tubbs could be called at a moment's notice to go to a remote location in the South, never sure if he would be able to find local transportation, lodging or anything resembling a hospitable environment. He would usually arrive by bus one town early to remove his city clothes and try his best to blend in with the local community. It didn't always work. In the early 1940s, Tubbs was spotted by a sheriff in the border town of Texarkana, Arkansas
, who ordered him into his patrol car and took him to the chief of police. After being interrogated for several minutes, Tubbs was ordered to leave the state in five minutes.
During World War Two, he was one of the few black war correspondents. Tubbs covered North Africa and the South Pacific from 1943 to 1945 for the Afro-American. After the war, he became the paper's assistant managing editor.
In April 1954, he married Chicago socialite Mamie Louise Hansberry, daughter of wealthy apartment house owner Carl Augustus Hansberry
. This union produced a daughter, Nantille Hansberry Tubbs. His granddaughter is actress Taye Hansberry.
From 1955 to 1959, he served as managing editor of Jet Magazine. After leaving Jet, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked for the publicity department at Warner Brothers Studios. After A. S. "Doc" Young
, he became one of the first African American publicists in Hollywood.
In 1967, he was elected as president of the Hollywood Publicists Guild. It was the first time that an African American had head a motion picture guild. Also in the 1960s, Tubbs helped found the United Television Movie Equity Guild to help minorities in motion picture technical fields.
Tubbs was elected president of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame
in 1979.
He died of a heart attack in his Los Angeles
home on January 15, 1989.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
journalist, who became the first black person to head a motion picture industry union.
Biography
Born Verley Trenton Tubbs, Jr. in Dallas, Texas on September 25, 1915, he later became known as Vincent Trenton Tubbs, Jr.While a student at Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
, Vincent Trenton Tubbs was one of the founders of the Delta Phi Delta journalism fraternity. In March 1938, he launched National Negro Newspaper Week with Moss Kyles Kendrix and Bernard Milton Jones while they were newspaper editors of the Maroon Tiger at Morehouse College.
By the time Tubbs turned 26 years old, he had risen rapidly within the world of African American newspapers. While serving as bureau chief of the Richmond edition of the Norfolk Journal and Guide, P. B. Young, the paper's publisher, heard that Tubbs was talking to the Richmond Bureau chief of the Baltimore Afro-American
Baltimore Afro-American
The Baltimore Afro-American, commonly known as The Afro, is a weekly newspaper published in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It is the flagship newspaper of the Afro-American chain and the longest-running African-American family-owned newspaper in the United States.-History:The newspaper was founded in...
and fired him. Tubbs was quickly hired by the Afro-American at a substantial pay increase. While there, Tubbs was given the challenging assignment of covering lynching
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
s.
As a "lynch reporter," Tubbs could be called at a moment's notice to go to a remote location in the South, never sure if he would be able to find local transportation, lodging or anything resembling a hospitable environment. He would usually arrive by bus one town early to remove his city clothes and try his best to blend in with the local community. It didn't always work. In the early 1940s, Tubbs was spotted by a sheriff in the border town of Texarkana, Arkansas
Texarkana, Arkansas
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,384 households, and 7,040 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.5 people per square mile . There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 368.1 per square mile...
, who ordered him into his patrol car and took him to the chief of police. After being interrogated for several minutes, Tubbs was ordered to leave the state in five minutes.
During World War Two, he was one of the few black war correspondents. Tubbs covered North Africa and the South Pacific from 1943 to 1945 for the Afro-American. After the war, he became the paper's assistant managing editor.
In April 1954, he married Chicago socialite Mamie Louise Hansberry, daughter of wealthy apartment house owner Carl Augustus Hansberry
Carl Augustus Hansberry
Carl Augustus Hansberry was an American real estate broker, inventor and political activist. He was also the father of award-winning playwright Lorraine Hansberry and the great-grandfather of actress Taye Hansberry....
. This union produced a daughter, Nantille Hansberry Tubbs. His granddaughter is actress Taye Hansberry.
From 1955 to 1959, he served as managing editor of Jet Magazine. After leaving Jet, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked for the publicity department at Warner Brothers Studios. After A. S. "Doc" Young
A. S. "Doc" Young
A. S. Young was a noted American sports journalist and author. He was also one of the first African American publicists working in Hollywood. Throughout his career he received numerous honors from the National Newspaper Publishers Association.-Background:Andrew Sturgeon Young was born in...
, he became one of the first African American publicists in Hollywood.
In 1967, he was elected as president of the Hollywood Publicists Guild. It was the first time that an African American had head a motion picture guild. Also in the 1960s, Tubbs helped found the United Television Movie Equity Guild to help minorities in motion picture technical fields.
Tubbs was elected president of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame
Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame
The Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Inc. , was founded in 1973, Oakland, California. It supports and promotes black filmmaking, and preserves the contributions by African American artists both before and behind the camera...
in 1979.
He died of a heart attack in his Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
home on January 15, 1989.