Lutrelle "Lu" F. Palmer (Finding Aid)

Lutrelle "Lu" F. Palmer

1922 - 2004

Interview Length: 186 minutes

Interview Date(s): May 22, 2002

Interview Location(s): Chicago, Illinois, The HistoryMakers

Abstract

Community activist and journalist Lu Palmer describes his parents backgrounds and explains how they met. Palmer also details the educational career of his father, Lutrelle Palmer Sr., who took over the African American high school in Newport News, Virginia, and transformed it into one of the finest high schools in the country. Palmer also talks about how his father dealt with prejudice based on his success with the school. Community activist and journalist Lu Palmer shares memories of his childhood in Newport News, Virginia, continuing to share memories of his father and his father's impact on the African American community there. Palmer talks about his experience in high school and discusses his college choice. Social activist and journalist Lu Palmer discusses his time in higher education. Palmer describes his social life at Virginia Union University, explains his decision to attend Syracuse University to study journalism, and evaluates his academic experience there. Palmer also explains why he left his Ph.D. studies to work in black journalism, and talks about his time in Memphis at the 'Tri-State Defender'. Community activist and journalist Lu Palmer details his time as a reporter at white newspapers 'Chicago's American' and the 'Chicago Daily News'. Palmer describes many incidents of racism he faced while at those papers, and explains how he used his reporting to combat it. Palmer explains why he left white papers to start his own paper, 'The Black X-Press', and his own radio show. Palmer discusses the difficulties he had securing advertising and printing for the 'X-Press' thanks to racial discrimination. Community activist and journalist Lu Palmer talks about the slant of his newspaper 'The Black X-Press', which was a strong advocate for black nationalism and independence. Palmer then reflects on the negative effects of integration and the Civil Rights Movement on African Americans. Palmer discusses how he was able to further promote activism and black independence on his radio show, 'Lu's Notebook'. Palmer explains the formation of Chicago Black United Communities and talks about how this organization helped to elect the first black school board president in Chicago's history. Community activist and journalist Lu Palmer details the campaign to elect an African American as mayor of Chicago, an effort which culminated in Harold Washington's election in 1983. Palmer explains the strategies that he and the Chicago United Black Communities organization employed in selection Washington as a candidate, and discusses how he and other black activists galvanized black Chicagoans into action, registering nearly 150,000 to vote. Palmer also talks about the career sacrifices he made in order to endorse Washington. Community activist and journalist Lu Palmer evaluates Harold Washington's time as mayor of Chicago and talks about what he could have done to make Washington's tenure more valuable for African Americans in Chicago. Palmer also discusses his role in advocating for Wallace Davis, a victim of police brutality. Palmer then considers his legacy and how he would like to be remembered.

31 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)