Changes

==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>https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53239-2004May24.html</ref>

==American Youth for Democracy==

==American Youth for Democracy==

=='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>https://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.''

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>https://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>https://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 25, 2004;

According to a [https://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.''