Ted Poston: Pioneer American Journalist

Rating:
Summary: Recommended for those interested in History & Journalism
Review: Anybody who is interested in Black Culture and History should read TED POSTON, PIONEER AMERICAN JOURNALIST, by Kathleen A. Hauke. Hauke did excellent research in this well-written book about Ted Poston's life, his time, and his work. I think it should be mandatory reading for all students of journalism, and it would be interesting for anyone interested in American history.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent account of a man struggling to succeed.
Review: As a minority journalist myself, I have been the sole person of color on three of the six newspaper staffs I have worked on. So it was refreshing and exciting for me to learn about a journalism pioneer who broke the barriers that had previously kept minorities out of mainstream newspapers. Ted Poston comes across as a proud man, striving to reserve his dignity in a world that spits in his face. He is shown to be quick-witted and dedicated. But the author, Kathleen A. Hauke, doesn't pull any punches. She also reveals Poston's dark side, how his drive for professional success eroded his personal happiness. As a background, we see Poston at his best as he works in the Jim Crow world of the 1930s and 40s and uses humor as a weapon to win acceptance. Heavily detailed, the book authoritatively discusses Poston's life and career through his body of work and the memories of those who knew and worked with him.