Chuck Stone
Encyclopedia
Charles Sumner "Chuck" Stone, Jr. (born July 21, 1924) is a former Tuskegee Airman
, an American
newspaper editor, columnist, professor of journalism, and author. After completing his service in World War II
, Stone already had been admitted to Harvard University
but chose to matriculate at Wesleyan University
. In the 1940s, he was the first African-American undergraduate in several decades at Wesleyan, graduating in the class of 1948 and serving as the commencement speaker. Stone subsequently received a master's degree in sociology from the University of Chicago
.
He was the first president of the National Association of Black Journalists
(NABJ, 1975–1977). According to his brief biography on the NABJ site, "Because of his reputation for integrity, he became a trusted middleman between Philadelphia police and murder suspects, more than 75 of whom "surrendered" to Stone rather than to the cops."
As an editor at Harlem
's New York Age, the Washington, D.C.
Afro-American, and the Chicago
Daily Defender, he was strongly associated with the Civil Rights
and Black Power
movements. He also served three years as a special assistant and speechwriter for Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. of the 22nd congressional district of New York, chair of the House
Education and Labor Committee. Stone later worked as a columnist for The Philadelphia Daily News
from 1972 to 1991.
He taught journalism at the University of Delaware
for several years. He then became Walter Spearman Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, where he retired in 2005.
Nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize
, Stone was inducted, in August 2004, by the NABJ into its Hall of Fame
. On March 29, 2007, Stone attended a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol rotunda
, where he and the other veteran Tuskegee Airmen (or their widows) were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President George W. Bush
in recognition of the Airmen's service during World War II
.
Stone is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity. He was a member of the fraternity's World Policy Council
, a think tank
whose purpose is to expand Alpha Phi Alpha's involvement in politics, and social and current policy to encompass international concerns.
He is the father of Krishna Stone, Allegra Stone and Charles Stone III
creator and star of the Budweiser "Whassup!" television commercials, and director of movies such as Drumline
, Mr. 3000
, and Paid In Full
.
The Chuck Stone Papers are housed in the John Hope Franklin Research Center in the Duke University Library. http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/rbmscl/stonechuck/inv/
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper editor, columnist, professor of journalism, and author. After completing his service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Stone already had been admitted to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
but chose to matriculate at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
. In the 1940s, he was the first African-American undergraduate in several decades at Wesleyan, graduating in the class of 1948 and serving as the commencement speaker. Stone subsequently received a master's degree in sociology from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
.
He was the first president of the National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Black Journalists
The National Association of Black Journalists is an organization of African American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 1975 in Washington, D.C...
(NABJ, 1975–1977). According to his brief biography on the NABJ site, "Because of his reputation for integrity, he became a trusted middleman between Philadelphia police and murder suspects, more than 75 of whom "surrendered" to Stone rather than to the cops."
As an editor at Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
's New York Age, the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Afro-American, and the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Daily Defender, he was strongly associated with the Civil Rights
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
and Black Power
Black Power
Black Power is a political slogan and a name for various associated ideologies. It is used in the movement among people of Black African descent throughout the world, though primarily by African Americans in the United States...
movements. He also served three years as a special assistant and speechwriter for Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. of the 22nd congressional district of New York, chair of the House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Education and Labor Committee. Stone later worked as a columnist for The Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...
from 1972 to 1991.
He taught journalism at the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
for several years. He then became Walter Spearman Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, where he retired in 2005.
Nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
, Stone was inducted, in August 2004, by the NABJ into its Hall of Fame
NABJ Hall of Fame
The NABJ Hall of Fame is a hall of fame project of the National Association of Black Journalists honoring African-American and other journalists. The original Hall of Fame list was established on April 5, 1990, with the indictution of seven individuals. No further individuals were inducted until...
. On March 29, 2007, Stone attended a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol rotunda
United States Capitol Rotunda
The United States Capitol rotunda is the central rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.. Located below the Capitol dome, it is the tallest part of the Capitol and has been described as its "symbolic and physical heart."...
, where he and the other veteran Tuskegee Airmen (or their widows) were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in recognition of the Airmen's service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Stone is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity. He was a member of the fraternity's World Policy Council
World Policy Council
The World Policy Council of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity is a nonprofit and nonpartisan think tank established in 1996 at Howard University to expand the fraternity's involvement in politics and social and current policy to encompass important global and world issues...
, a think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
whose purpose is to expand Alpha Phi Alpha's involvement in politics, and social and current policy to encompass international concerns.
He is the father of Krishna Stone, Allegra Stone and Charles Stone III
Charles Stone III
Charles Stone III is a film director, known for films such as Drumline starring Nick Cannon, Mr. 3000 starring Bernie Mac, and Paid in Full....
creator and star of the Budweiser "Whassup!" television commercials, and director of movies such as Drumline
Drumline
A drumline is a section of percussion instruments usually played as part of a musical marching ensemble. High school and college marching bands, drill and drum corps, drum and bugle corps, indoor percussion ensembles, and pipe bands usually incorporate drumlines; however, drumlines can exist...
, Mr. 3000
Mr. 3000
Mr. 3000 is a 2004 American sports comedy film starring Bernie Mac and Angela Bassett. The film's plot surrounds a retired Major League Baseball player who makes a comeback at age 47 in order to attain 3,000 hits.-Plot:...
, and Paid In Full
Paid in Full (film)
Paid in Full is a 2002 American criminal drama film that was produced by Roc-A-Fella Films and directed by Charles Stone III. It takes place in Harlem just before the Crack Epidemic that hit during the 1980s. The title of the film is taken from the 1987 album by Eric B. and Rakim."Paid in Full" is...
.
Books by Stone
- Tell It Like It Is
- Black Political Power in America
- King Strut (novel)
- Squizzy the Black Squirrel: A Fabulous Fable of Friendship
Book about Stone
- Dennis Jackson, Chuck Stone: Man in the Middle: A Story of 'Audacious Black Power' in the Newsroom
The Chuck Stone Papers are housed in the John Hope Franklin Research Center in the Duke University Library. http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/rbmscl/stonechuck/inv/
External links
- http://www.answers.com/topic/chuck-stone