When we think of Black women that have dominated the field of journalism, we must pay homage to the one and only award-winning journalist Gwen Ifill, who died Monday after a battle with uterine cancer. She was 61.
Ifill was highly-respected moderator and managing editor for “Washington Week” and political reporter and co-anchor for “PBS Newshour,” and word of her passing left journalists across the country in mourning, sharing many tributes singing her praises.
The Simmons College graduate was truly incomparable when it came to bringing attention to politics and shedding light on both national and international issues.
The author of “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama,” Ifill knew at the early age of 9 that she wanted to be a journalist. In a 2011 interview with the Archive of American Television, (according to NY Times) she stated that “I didn’t see a whole lot of people who looked like me doing it on television… you get used to being underestimated.”
That obviously pushed Ifill to become an extraordinary journalist as she went on to eventually join The Times in 1991. She also became a White House correspondent and had the distinguished honor of covering Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign.
According to PBS, Gwen was a recipient of more than 20 honorary doctorate degrees, and has been honored by organizations such as The National Association of Black Journalists, Ohio University, Boston’s Ford Hall Forum, and Ebony Magazine for being one of the 150 Most Influential African Americans. She was also an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
She was a true trailblazer and we salute her and her greatness. May Ifill forever be remembered as a legend in this industry. #BlackGirlMagic forever!
