Trailblazers honored for leadership

This is a special month for two esteemed members and trailblazers in the local black community.
Today, Margaret Linton-Lanier gets inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame in Akron. She receives her honor at a banquet at Cathedral Buffet and Banquet Center, Cuyahoga Falls.
On Oct. 9, the Rev. Lonnie K.A. Simon receives kudos from 12 women whose ministries he advocated and mentored. The event will be at 6 p.m. at New Bethel Baptist Church, Hillman Street, where the Rev. Mr. Simon is pastor emeritus.
The names of these two dynamos are synonymous with the passion, dedication and work ethic that have led to their leadership roles in the community. They have given of their time and talent to ensure a better way of life for men and women of color for numerous years.
They both were involved with the civil rights work of the 1960s and 1970s. Their community work has been stellar as well.
For example, Mr. Simon has served on numerous boards, including a stint as a Youngstown school board member, has allowed his church fellowship hall to be used for several political forums and has written two books of poetry.
Achievements
Linton-Lanier, now living in Cleveland, is a former publisher of the Buckeye Review weekly newspaper that reports on local, national and regional matters pertinent to black folk.
She is the former operator of Linton Funeral Home on the city's North Side and was one of the first licensed women morticians.
She's being inducted into the Broadcasters Hall in part because of her trailblazing work with the Black Broadcasters Coalition, which she and others formed in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Linton-Lanier, who once hosted her show "One Woman's World" on WYTV Channel 33, noticed there weren't any black reporters and anchor people on the local television stations.
She and others said that was a glaring error that must be corrected.
Through the BBC, local TV stations soon began establishing programs geared toward blacks, and blacks began appearing on news broadcasts.
I believe whatever small success I have attained in journalism is due in large part to the work of Linton-Lanier, the late McCullough Williams Jr. and others who believed that black people have the ability and should get the equal opportunity to become reporters, editors, broadcasters, camera people and technicians.
The legacy of Mr. Simon and Linton-Lanier is impressive. But who will step up in our community to continue that legacy?
Those who have sacrificed so much over the past 50 years are getting older, and soon will be gone.
What's needed
Those who come forward must possess the same qualities as their predecessors.
They must have character, competence, a passion for their people, a love for people in general and the ability to walk alone, if need be.
This newspaper ran a story a few years ago that dealt with whether twentysomething blacks would remain in the Youngstown-Warren area after they completed either their college or vocational training.
Few said that they would.
That is sad because that means the potential leaders of tomorrow who could forge a new direction and new way of thinking in this area will take those skills to other cities.
The challenge for the black community is to not look at the glass representing the Youngstown-Warren area as half-empty but rather half-full.
There are opportunities here for success, and this Valley, which has withstood steel mill closings and other calamities, remains alive and is improving. The rebirth taking place in Youngstown (the downtown arena and Youngstown 2010 plan) and Warren (the Riverwalk) are examples of progress toward a better future.
Congratulations again to Mr. Simon and Linton-Lanier. I thank you for the example and high standards you have set during your walk in the Mahoning Valley.
ebrown@vindy.com