Conrad Worrill
Encyclopedia
Conrad Worrill is an African American
writer
, educator, activist, and former talkshow host for the WVON
call-in program On Target. Organizations he has been involved with include the Million Man March
, and the National Black United Front
. Worrills activism has centered on the need for greater independence in African American life, and helping young people better understand the relationships between power and institutions.
. His father was active in the NAACP and the YMCA
, and played a large role in influencing Worrill to become an activist on his own. Conrad moved to Chicago
when he was nine. He became a serious athlete, but was awakened to the prejudice and racial segregation
that was present when his swim team faced heckling. Despite racial hardships, Worrill pursued football, basketball, and track. In 1962, Conrad was drafted
into the army and stationed in Okinawa, Japan. While abroad, he read much about African American history
, culture, and politics. He returned to America in 1963 and attended George Williams College, majoring in Applied Behavioral Sciences. While at college, his past experience overseas of seeing many African Americans sent to war led him to become active in the Black Power Movement. One of the organizations he was involved with was the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
, which was one of the first African American civil rights
groups against war.
Worrill graduated in 1968 and was hired by a West Side YMCA as a program director. He left to pursue his PhD at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. His focus was on "Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary Social Studies". He wanted to help students understand the relationship between institutions and power. Upon receiving his degree from Wisconsin, Worrill taught two years at George Williams College. In 1975, he transferred to the faculty of Northeastern Illinois University
, where he became active in the Center for Inner City Studies.
Worrill is the elected economic development commissioner of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America
(N'COBRA). He was a special consultant of field operations in the Million Man March, which took place on October 16, 1995. Conrad writes a weekly column entitled, “Worrill’s World”, which has a wide fan base.
"White folk of all stripes owe reparations. Yes, they owe. They benefited simply because they white." - Dr. Conrad W. Worrill
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, educator, activist, and former talkshow host for the WVON
WVON
WVON is a radio station licensed to Berwyn, Illinois, serving the greater Chicago area, airing an African-American-oriented talk format. WVON is managed by Midway Broadcasting Corporation, via a local marketing agreement with frequency owner Clear Channel Communications. Civil rights leaders the...
call-in program On Target. Organizations he has been involved with include the Million Man March
Million Man March
The Million Man March was a gathering of social activists, en masse, held on and around the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on October 16, 1995...
, and the National Black United Front
National Black United Front
The National Black United Front is an African-American organization formed in the late 1970s in Brooklyn, New York. Its headquarters are in South Shore, Chicago, Illinois....
. Worrills activism has centered on the need for greater independence in African American life, and helping young people better understand the relationships between power and institutions.
Early life
Worrill was born in Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. His father was active in the NAACP and the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, and played a large role in influencing Worrill to become an activist on his own. Conrad moved to 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...
when he was nine. He became a serious athlete, but was awakened to the prejudice and racial segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
that was present when his swim team faced heckling. Despite racial hardships, Worrill pursued football, basketball, and track. In 1962, Conrad was drafted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
into the army and stationed in Okinawa, Japan. While abroad, he read much about African American history
African American history
African-American history is the portion of American history that specifically discusses the African American or Black American ethnic group in the United States. Most African Americans are the descendants of captive Africans held in the United States from 1619 to 1865...
, culture, and politics. He returned to America in 1963 and attended George Williams College, majoring in Applied Behavioral Sciences. While at college, his past experience overseas of seeing many African Americans sent to war led him to become active in the Black Power Movement. One of the organizations he was involved with was the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee ' was one of the principal organizations of the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. It emerged from a series of student meetings led by Ella Baker held at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina in April 1960...
, which was one of the first African American civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
groups against war.
Worrill graduated in 1968 and was hired by a West Side YMCA as a program director. He left to pursue his PhD at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. His focus was on "Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary Social Studies". He wanted to help students understand the relationship between institutions and power. Upon receiving his degree from Wisconsin, Worrill taught two years at George Williams College. In 1975, he transferred to the faculty of Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University is a public state university located in Chicago, Illinois. The main campus is located in the community area of North Park with three additional campuses in the metropolitan area. Tracing its founding to 1867, it was first established as a separate branch of a...
, where he became active in the Center for Inner City Studies.
Activism
In addition to his teaching duties, Worrill was involved with the National Black United Front. The organization deals with addressing political, social, economic, and cultural forces that impact people of African descent in America today. The NBUF has been known for pushing a program of study that emphasizes the role of Africans and African Americans.Worrill is the elected economic development commissioner of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America
The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America
The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America is an organization based out of Washington, DC that seeks financial compensation for the descendants of former slaves in the United States.-Goals:...
(N'COBRA). He was a special consultant of field operations in the Million Man March, which took place on October 16, 1995. Conrad writes a weekly column entitled, “Worrill’s World”, which has a wide fan base.
"White folk of all stripes owe reparations. Yes, they owe. They benefited simply because they white." - Dr. Conrad W. Worrill