William Raspberry
Encyclopedia
William Raspberry is a former Pulitzer Prize
-winning syndicated American public affairs
columnist. He was also the Knight Professor of the Practice of Communications and Journalism at the Sanford Institute of Public Policy at Duke University
. An African-American, he frequently wrote on racial issues.
In 1999, Raspberry received the Elijah Parish Lovejoy
Award as well as an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Colby College
.
After earning a B.S. in history at the University of Indianapolis
in 1958, Raspberry served as a public information officer with the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962, before joining the staff of the Washington Post as a teletypist. Raspberry quickly rose in the ranks of the paper, becoming a columnist in 1966. Raspberry was first nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
in 1982, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
in 1994.
Raspberry sometimes supported gay rights, writing at least one column condemning gay-bashing.Archive Search for "William Raspberry" gay, archival list of William Raspberry's columns on gay issues at the Washington Post 1993-2005.Raspberry, William. What Are Gay-Bashers Afraid Of?. November 2, 1998, Washington Post. Accessed May 23, 2009. He argued against certain torts and complaints from the disabled. The Ragged Edge
, a disabled-rights publication, published complaints from letters to the editor that the Post did not print.Raspberry's target denied response in print, March 1999, Ragged Edge Magazine.
He retired in December 2005. He provided the Washington Post a guest column on November 11, 2008, commenting on the election of Barack Obama
as president of the United States.Raspberry, William. A Path Beyond Grievance. November 11, 2008, Washington Post. Accessed May 23, 2009.
As of 2008, he was president of "Baby Steps", a parent training and empowerment program based in Okolona, Mississippi
.
He is the author of Looking Backward at Us, a collection of his columns from the 1980s.
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...
-winning syndicated American public affairs
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
columnist. He was also the Knight Professor of the Practice of Communications and Journalism at the Sanford Institute of Public Policy at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. An African-American, he frequently wrote on racial issues.
In 1999, Raspberry received the Elijah Parish Lovejoy
Elijah P. Lovejoy
Elijah Parish Lovejoy was an American Presbyterian minister, journalist, newspaper editor and abolitionist. He was murdered by an opposition mob in Alton, Illinois during their attack on his warehouse to destroy his press and abolitionist materials.Lovejoy's father was a Congregational minister...
Award as well as an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Colby College
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
.
After earning a B.S. in history at the University of Indianapolis
University of Indianapolis
The University of Indianapolis is a university located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The shortened name it uses is UIndy...
in 1958, Raspberry served as a public information officer with the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962, before joining the staff of the Washington Post as a teletypist. Raspberry quickly rose in the ranks of the paper, becoming a columnist in 1966. Raspberry was first nominated for a 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...
in 1982, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
The Pulitzer Prize for Commentary has been awarded since 1970. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.-List of winners and their official citations:...
in 1994.
Raspberry sometimes supported gay rights, writing at least one column condemning gay-bashing.Archive Search for "William Raspberry" gay, archival list of William Raspberry's columns on gay issues at the Washington Post 1993-2005.Raspberry, William. What Are Gay-Bashers Afraid Of?. November 2, 1998, Washington Post. Accessed May 23, 2009. He argued against certain torts and complaints from the disabled. The Ragged Edge
The Ragged Edge
"The Ragged Edge" is an episode from the fifth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Garibaldi travels to the Drazi homeworld to investigate attacks on Alliance shipping lanes...
, a disabled-rights publication, published complaints from letters to the editor that the Post did not print.Raspberry's target denied response in print, March 1999, Ragged Edge Magazine.
Disability publications in the U.S.
In the early 20th century, having a disabling condition was still a source of social stigma and people with disabilities were excluded from many of the activities of U.S. society, including participation in the creation of popular culture via creative writing or reportage...
He retired in December 2005. He provided the Washington Post a guest column on November 11, 2008, commenting on the election of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
as president of the United States.Raspberry, William. A Path Beyond Grievance. November 11, 2008, Washington Post. Accessed May 23, 2009.
As of 2008, he was president of "Baby Steps", a parent training and empowerment program based in Okolona, Mississippi
Okolona, Mississippi
Okolona is a city in and one of the county seats of Chickasaw County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,056 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Okolona is located at ....
.
He is the author of Looking Backward at Us, a collection of his columns from the 1980s.