Lessenberry Ink

Last year, I finished a book called Reason vs Racism, which is a look at how one newspaper family covered race and race relations in cities all across the country from 1900 to 2018, and also on how they integrated their own staffs.  They still own newspapers in Pittsburgh and Toledo and broadcast properties in other states. It is scheduled to be available soon.  Last week, however, the wife of the current CEO of that company, Block. Communications, Inc., posted something on Facebook saying she would never accept the results of the election, and most dismayingly, calling the Vice-President-elect a whore. While she has nothing to do with the management of the company, this is beyond horrible and there aren’t words strong enough to condemn it. Obviously, it casts a shadow over my book, which, while written in I hope is a compelling style, will be mainly of interest to historians and those who are interested in race and media in America. I want to say I stand by everything that I have written; that the Block family assisted me but never interfered in what I wrote, and that their record as a whole was largely enlightened and ahead of its time.  Those who know me personally also know that I strongly supported President-elect Biden, and very much admire Kamala Harris and was delighted that he chose her as his running mate. And I will be happy to let you know when the book is available, on Amazon and hopefully elsewhere, Follow me on my professional Facebook page, Lessenberryink.com. for more observations, essays and podcasts.