By: Sylvia Powers
Several of the 44 founders of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) came to Cleveland to celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary. Among them was Chuku Lee, who recalled being invited to join due to his diplomatic communications work for the U.S. Embassy in Paris. “We were on a mission to control our image and report on issues important to us—and that fact hasn’t changed,” Lee said.
Founder Leon DeCosta Dash echoed the urgency: “Given today’s climate, NABJ and all Black organizations are more relevant than ever. We must organize and fight to keep moving forward.”
Over the past 5 decades, NABJ membership has grown from the original 44 members to over 4,000 members nationwide.
