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[[File:Jarrett-and-henry-wallace1.jpg|thumb|245px|right|Vice President [[Henry Wallace]] (left) was booted off the ticket by FDR in 1944 when questions about his mental capacity arose; he ran against his replacement, [[Harry S. Truman]] with strong [[CPUSA]] backing in 1948. [[Vernon Jarrett]] (right) had high praise for [[Barack Obama]]'s communitiy organizing during a 1992  event sponsored by the ''Chicago Defender''.<ref>"Project Vote...registered 2,000 during the ''Chicago Defender'''s annual Bud Billiken Parade...If Project Vote is to reach its goal of registering 150,000 out of an estimated 400,000 unregistered blacks statewide, "it must average 10,000 rather than 7,000 every week," says [[Barack Obama]], the program's executive director."{{cite news|author=Jarrett, Vernon|date=August 11, 1992|title='Project Vote' brings power to the people|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Vernon%20Jarrett)%20AND%20date(8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Vernon%20Jarrett)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|work=Chicago Sun-Times|page=23}}</ref>  Jarrett's daughter-in-law, [[Valerie Jarrett]], is the Senior Advisor to [[President Obama]] for Intergovernmental Affairs. [http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/staff/valerie_jarrett/] ]]

[[File:Jarrett-and-henry-wallace1.jpg|thumb|245px|right|Vice President [[Henry Wallace]] (left) was booted off the ticket by FDR in 1944 when questions about his mental capacity arose; he ran against his replacement, [[Harry S. Truman]] with strong [[CPUSA]] backing in 1948. Vernon Jarrett (right) had high praise for [[Barack Obama]]'s communitiy organizing during a 1992  event sponsored by the ''Chicago Defender''.<ref>"Project Vote...registered 2,000 during the ''Chicago Defender'''s annual Bud Billiken Parade...If Project Vote is to reach its goal of registering 150,000 out of an estimated 400,000 unregistered blacks statewide, "it must average 10,000 rather than 7,000 every week," says [[Barack Obama]], the program's executive director."{{cite news|author=Jarrett, Vernon|date=August 11, 1992|title='Project Vote' brings power to the people|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Vernon%20Jarrett)%20AND%20date(8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Vernon%20Jarrett)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|work=Chicago Sun-Times|page=23}}</ref>  Jarrett's daughter-in-law, [[Valerie Jarrett]], is the Senior Advisor to [[President Obama]] for Intergovernmental Affairs. [http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/staff/valerie_jarrett/] ]]

'''Vernon Jarrett''' was prominent Chicago journalist

'''Vernon Jarrett''' was prominent Chicago journalist

==Early life/career==

==Early life/career==

Vernon Jarrett was born in Paris, Tennessee, the youngest son of two western Tennessee schoolteachers. He graduated from Knoxville College in Tennessee. He moved to Chicago in 1946 as part of the Great Migration to the North. On his first day on the job at the [[Chicago Defender]] in 1946, he covered a race riot<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53239-2004May24.html</ref>.

Vernon Jarrett was born in Paris, Tennessee, the youngest son of two western Tennessee schoolteachers. He graduated from Knoxville College in Tennessee. He moved to Chicago in 1946 as part of the Great Migration to the North. On his first day on the job at the [[Chicago Defender]] in 1946, he covered a race riot.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53239-2004May24.html</ref>

==American Youth for Democracy==

==American Youth for Democracy==

The following officers and council members were elected at the June  1946 convention of the [[Communist Party USA]] youth wing [[American Youth for Democracy]]:  

The following officers and council members were elected at the June  1946 convention of the [[Communist Party USA]] youth wing [[American Youth for Democracy]]:  

Illinois: [[Iz Cheifetz]], [[Evelyn Fargo]], [[Sam Freidman]], [[Delores Gerrard]], [[Leon Gurley]], [[Pat Hoverder]], [[Vernon Jarrett]]. <ref>[Testimony of Walter S. Steele regarding Communist activities in the United States. Hearings before the Committee on Un-American Activities, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first session, on H. R. 1884 and H. R. 2122, bills to curb or outlaw the Communist Party in the United States. Public law 601 (section 121, subsection Q (2) July 21, 1947, pages 75.76]]</ref>

Illinois: [[Iz Cheifetz]], [[Evelyn Fargo]], [[Sam Freidman]], [[Delores Gerrard]], [[Leon Gurley]], [[Pat Hoverder]], Vernon Jarrett.<ref>[[Testimony of Walter S. Steele regarding Communist activities in the United States. Hearings before the Committee on Un-American Activities, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first session, on H. R. 1884 and H. R. 2122, bills to curb or outlaw the Communist Party in the United States. Public law 601 (section 121, subsection Q (2) July 21, 1947, pages 75.76)]]</ref>

==Relationship to Frank Marshall Davis==

==Relationship to Frank Marshall Davis==

In early 1948 [[Frank Marshall Davis]] served on the publicity committee of the [[Citizens' Committee to Aid Packing-House Workers]] with [[Vernon Jarrett]].

In early 1948 [[Frank Marshall Davis]] served on the publicity committee of the [[Citizens' Committee to Aid Packing-House Workers]] with Vernon Jarrett.

The committee was "organized to support the united packing-House workers of America C.I.O. now on strike"

The committee was "organized to support the united packing-House workers of America C.I.O. now on strike"

=='40s activism==

=='40s activism==

[[Image:1030134531.jpg|right|250px]]

[[Image:1030134531.jpg|right|250px]]

In 1948 Vernon Jarrett left his job as journalist at the [[Chicago Defender]] to start a black oriented radio show "Negro Newsfront" with [[Oscar Brown, Jr.]]<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53239-2004May24.html</ref>.

In 1948 Vernon Jarrett left his job as journalist at the [[Chicago Defender]] to start a black oriented radio show "Negro Newsfront" with [[Oscar Brown, Jr.]].<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53239-2004May24.html</ref>

:''From 1948 to 1951, he and budding composer Oscar Brown Jr. introduced the nation's first black daily radio newscast on Marshall Field's 50,000-watt WJJD-AM, called "Negro Newsfront.''

:''From 1948 to 1951, he and budding composer Oscar Brown Jr. introduced the nation's first black daily radio newscast on Marshall Field's 50,000-watt WJJD-AM, called "Negro Newsfront.''

==Citizens' Committee to Aid Packing-House Workers==

==Citizens' Committee to Aid Packing-House Workers==

On April 12, 1948, [[Vernon Jarrett]] was listed as a member of the [[Communist Party USA]] dominated [[Citizens' Committee to Aid Packing-House Workers]] which was based in Chicago, Illinois.<ref>Citizens' Committee to Aid Packing-House Workers letter to committee members from Sidney Jones, April 12, 1948</ref>

On April 12, 1948, Vernon Jarrett was listed as a member of the [[Communist Party USA]] dominated [[Citizens' Committee to Aid Packing-House Workers]] which was based in Chicago, Illinois.<ref>Citizens' Committee to Aid Packing-House Workers letter to committee members from Sidney Jones, April 12, 1948</ref>

==Du Bois Theater Guild==

==Du Bois Theater Guild==

In the 1950's Chicago's [[Du Bois Theater Guild]] was one of the first groups to stress "Black Awareness" in its theatre philosophy.

In the 1950's Chicago's [[Du Bois Theater Guild]] was one of the first groups to stress "Black Awareness" in its theatre philosophy.

Founding members included [[Richard Durham]], Vernon Jarrett, [[Oscar Brown Jr.]] and [[Janice Kingslow]]<ref>Black World/Negro Digest Apr 1973 p 28</ref>.

Founding members included [[Richard Durham]], Vernon Jarrett, [[Oscar Brown Jr.]] and [[Janice Kingslow]].<ref>Black World/Negro Digest Apr 1973 p 28</ref>

==Career==

==Career==

Vernon Jarrett became the first black syndicated op-ed columnist for the Chicago Tribune in 1970. Then in 1983, he moved to the Chicago Sun-Times as an op-ed columnist and later became a member of its editorial board, from which he retired in 1995. He was a senior fellow at the [[Great Cities Institute]] of the University of Illinois in Chicago, where he created the Freedom Readers, a young reading society.

Vernon Jarrett became the first black syndicated op-ed columnist for the Chicago Tribune in 1970. Then in 1983, he moved to the Chicago Sun-Times as an op-ed columnist and later became a member of its editorial board, from which he retired in 1995. He was a senior fellow at the [[Great Cities Institute]] of the University of Illinois in Chicago, where he created the Freedom Readers, a young reading society.

Jarrett, also spent more than 30 years as a host of a Sunday morning television talk show. His commentaries could also be heard on "The Jarrett Journal" over WVON-AM, Chicago's black-owned radio station. He also hosted TV interview shows for the Chicago public schools' Educator program<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53239-2004May24.html</ref>.

Jarrett, also spent more than 30 years as a host of a Sunday morning television talk show. His commentaries could also be heard on "The Jarrett Journal" over WVON-AM, Chicago's black-owned radio station. He also hosted TV interview shows for the Chicago public schools' Educator program.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53239-2004May24.html</ref>

   

   

He was an on-camera source for two lauded PBS documentaries, "Harry Truman" (1997) and "Eleanor: The Life and Times of Eleanor Roosevelt" (2000). He also was featured in the BBC production of "The Promised Land," which documented the migration of southern blacks northward after World War II.

He was an on-camera source for two lauded PBS documentaries, "Harry Truman" (1997) and "Eleanor: The Life and Times of Eleanor Roosevelt" (2000). He also was featured in the BBC production of "The Promised Land," which documented the migration of southern blacks northward after World War II.

Vernon  Jarrett's journalistic and humanitarian efforts won him numerous awards. In 2000, he was inducted into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent at the Gwendolyn Brooks Center of Chicago State University. In 2001, the national Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented him with its Silver Circle Award for his contributions to serious television<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53239-2004May24.html</ref>.

Vernon  Jarrett's journalistic and humanitarian efforts won him numerous awards. In 2000, he was inducted into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent at the Gwendolyn Brooks Center of Chicago State University. In 2001, the national Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented him with its Silver Circle Award for his contributions to serious television.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53239-2004May24.html</ref>

==Vernon Jarrett and Harold Washington==

==Vernon Jarrett and Harold Washington==

Vernon Jarrett also played a major role in the election of Chicago's first black Mayor [[Harold Washington]].

Vernon Jarrett also played a major role in the election of Chicago's first black Mayor [[Harold Washington]].

According to a [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ Washington Post] obituary May 25th 2004;

According to a [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ Washington Post] obituary May 25, 2004;

:''Mr. Jarrett continually shone a light on African American history and pertinent issues in Chicago and throughout the country. He stoked the political embers in Chicago that led to the 1983 election of the city's first African American mayor, Harold Washington.''

:''Mr. Jarrett continually shone a light on African American history and pertinent issues in Chicago and throughout the country. He stoked the political embers in Chicago that led to the 1983 election of the city's first African American mayor, Harold Washington.''

Harold Washington defeated the Daley machine to win the mayoralty backed by a coalition led by Chicago's [[Communist Party USA]] and the local branch of [[Democratic Socialists of America]] (DSA).

Harold Washington defeated the Daley machine to win the mayoralty backed by a coalition led by Chicago's [[Communist Party USA]] and the local branch of [[Democratic Socialists of America]] (DSA).

DSA member and socialist historian [[Paul Buhle]], wrote in a 1992 article for the Encyclopedia of the American Left<ref>http://eprints.cddc.vt.edu/marxists//history/usa/parties/cpusa/encyclopedia-american-left.htm</ref>;

DSA member and socialist historian [[Paul Buhle]], wrote in a 1992 article for the Encyclopedia of the American Left;<ref>http://eprints.cddc.vt.edu/marxists//history/usa/parties/cpusa/encyclopedia-american-left.htm</ref>

:''Communists also gained from long-standing political contacts in the black community. Victories of black mayoral and congressional candidates with decades — old ties to the CP — a short list would include Coleman Young and George Crocket in Detroit, Gus Newport in Berkeley, and somewhat more ambiguously, Harold Washington in Chicago.''''

:''Communists also gained from long-standing political contacts in the black community. Victories of black mayoral and congressional candidates with decades — old ties to the CP — a short list would include Coleman Young and George Crocket in Detroit, Gus Newport in Berkeley, and somewhat more ambiguously, Harold Washington in Chicago.''''

At Northwestern University [[Alice Palmer]], in the 1980s,  campaigned against the university's investment in South Africa. She was Dean of African American Studies at the university.

At Northwestern University [[Alice Palmer]], in the 1980s,  campaigned against the university's investment in South Africa. She was Dean of African American Studies at the university.

When black student athletes protested against their treatment by the university marched on the university principal's office. Palmer enlisted the help of her and [[Buzz Palmer]]'s  friend, journalist [[Vernon Jarrett]] to help publicize the event.<ref>[http://digitalcommons.colum.edu/cadc_caam_oralhistories/6/, Interview with Alice Palmer, Katherine Elizabeth McAuliff, Columbia College - Chicago, Spring 2010],</ref>

When black student athletes protested against their treatment by the university marched on the university principal's office. Palmer enlisted the help of her and [[Buzz Palmer]]'s  friend, journalist Vernon Jarrett to help publicize the event.<ref>[http://digitalcommons.colum.edu/cadc_caam_oralhistories/6/, Interview with Alice Palmer, Katherine Elizabeth McAuliff, Columbia College - Chicago, Spring 2010],</ref>

==Vernon Jarrett and Barack Obama==

==Vernon Jarrett and Barack Obama==

Obama helped [[Carol Moseley-Braun]] win her Senate seat, then took it over himself in 2004-backed  by the same communist/socialist alliance that had elected  Washington and Moseley Braun.

Obama helped [[Carol Moseley-Braun]] win her Senate seat, then took it over himself in 2004-backed  by the same communist/socialist alliance that had elected  Washington and Moseley Braun.

Commenting on the 1992 race, Vernon Jarrett wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times of August 11th 1992;

Commenting on the 1992 race, Vernon Jarrett wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times of August 11, 1992;

:''Good news! Good news! Project Vote, a collectivity of 10 church-based community organizations dedicated to black voter registration, is off and running. Project Vote is increasing its rolls at a 7,000-per-week clip...If Project Vote is to reach its goal of registering 150,000 out of an estimated 400,000 unregistered blacks statewide, "it must average 10,000 rather than 7,000 every week," says Barack Obama, the program's executive director...''  

:''Good news! Good news! Project Vote, a collectivity of 10 church-based community organizations dedicated to black voter registration, is off and running. Project Vote is increasing its rolls at a 7,000-per-week clip...If Project Vote is to reach its goal of registering 150,000 out of an estimated 400,000 unregistered blacks statewide, "it must average 10,000 rather than 7,000 every week," says Barack Obama, the program's executive director...''  

''Jarrett’s claim to fame is that he was a partisan of the cause of African Americans in the broad democratic tradition of Paul Robeson and W.E.B. DuBois...''

''Jarrett’s claim to fame is that he was a partisan of the cause of African Americans in the broad democratic tradition of Paul Robeson and W.E.B. DuBois...''

[[Paul Robeson]] and [[W.E.B. DuBois]] were both [[Communist Party USA]] members. On April 9th, 1998 at Chicago's South Shore Cultural Center, Vernon Jarrett hosted a Paul Robeson Citywide Centennial Celebration event, with his old comrade and Party sympathiser [[Margaret Burroughs]] and former [[Communist Party USA]] members [[Studs Terkel]] and his old friend [[Oscar Brown, Jr.]]

[[Paul Robeson]] and [[W.E.B. DuBois]] were both [[Communist Party USA]] members. On April 9, 1998 at Chicago's South Shore Cultural Center, Vernon Jarrett hosted a Paul Robeson Citywide Centennial Celebration event, with his old comrade and Party sympathiser [[Margaret Burroughs]] and former [[Communist Party USA]] members [[Studs Terkel]] and his old friend [[Oscar Brown, Jr.]]

[[Dee Myles]] went on to say;

[[Dee Myles]] went on to say;