Lerone Bennett, Jr., a highly respected historian of the African American experience, died on February 14 in Chicago. He was 89 years old and suffered from vascular dementia.
A native of Mississippi, Bennett was a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta. After college he worked at the Atlanta Daily Word, a Black newspaper before joining the staff at Jet magazine in Chicago. A year later, he joined the staff at Ebony. He worked at the magazine for more than a half century, serving as executive editor.
Bennett was the author of many books including Before the Mayflower: A History of Black America (1962) and Forced Into Glory: Abraham Lincoln’s White Dream (2000). He served as a visiting professor at Northwestern University.
I send my condolences to the Bennett family for the loss of a great intellectual freedom fighter for Black people in America.
Acknowledging honor given father (Sr.) of historian Lerone Bennett, Jr., for whom Bennett Avenue is named in St.John Community, Austin, Texas USA, platted 1938, along with names of other African-American achieving models.. Blessings appreciated from this family. Peace be with All.