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Trailblazer: A Pioneering Journalist's Fight to Make the Media Look More Like America
Dorothy Butler Gilliam, whose 50-year-career as a journalist put her in the forefront of the fight for social justice, offers a comprehensive view of racial relations and the media in the U.S.
Most civil rights victories are achieved behind the scenes, and this riveting, beautifully written memoir by a "black first" looks back with searing insight on the decades of struggle, friendship, courage, humor and savvy that secured what seems commonplace today-people of color working in mainstream media.
Told with a pioneering newspaper writer's charm and skill, Gilliam's full, fascinating life weaves her personal and professional experiences and media history into an engrossing tapestry. When we read about the death of her father and other formative events of her life, we glimpse the crippling impact of the segregated South before the civil rights movement when slavery's legacy still felt astonishingly close. We root for her as a wife, mother, and ambitious professional as she seizes once-in-a-lifetime opportunities never meant for a "dark-skinned woman" and builds a distinguished career. We gain a comprehensive view of how the media, especially newspapers, affected the movement for equal rights in this country. And in this humble, moving memoir, we see how an innovative and respected journalist and working mother helped provide opportunities for others.
With the distinct voice of one who has worked for and witnessed immense progress and overcome heart-wrenching setbacks, this book covers a wide swath of media history -- from the era of game-changing Negro newspapers like the Chicago Defender to the civil rights movement, feminism, and our current imperfect diversity. This timely memoir, which reflects the tradition of boot-strapping African American storytelling from the South, is a smart, contemporary consideration of the media.
Most civil rights victories are achieved behind the scenes, and this riveting, beautifully written memoir by a "black first" looks back with searing insight on the decades of struggle, friendship, courage, humor and savvy that secured what seems commonplace today-people of color working in mainstream media.
Told with a pioneering newspaper writer's charm and skill, Gilliam's full, fascinating life weaves her personal and professional experiences and media history into an engrossing tapestry. When we read about the death of her father and other formative events of her life, we glimpse the crippling impact of the segregated South before the civil rights movement when slavery's legacy still felt astonishingly close. We root for her as a wife, mother, and ambitious professional as she seizes once-in-a-lifetime opportunities never meant for a "dark-skinned woman" and builds a distinguished career. We gain a comprehensive view of how the media, especially newspapers, affected the movement for equal rights in this country. And in this humble, moving memoir, we see how an innovative and respected journalist and working mother helped provide opportunities for others.
With the distinct voice of one who has worked for and witnessed immense progress and overcome heart-wrenching setbacks, this book covers a wide swath of media history -- from the era of game-changing Negro newspapers like the Chicago Defender to the civil rights movement, feminism, and our current imperfect diversity. This timely memoir, which reflects the tradition of boot-strapping African American storytelling from the South, is a smart, contemporary consideration of the media.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 8, 2019
82 people are currently reading
2611 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
January 14, 2019
I am always surprised when I read about a "first" these days ... first black female neurosurgeon candidate was the most recent (never mind that we're so far from parity/equality that it's absurd that these things still happen).
Dorothy Butler Gilliam was also a "first" - the first black female reporter at the Washington Post. Having come from covering the Little Rock Nine for one of the country's leading black newspapers, she brought with her a level of experience and talent that could not be ignored by the managing editor.
In her memoir, Gilliam describes her work in the civil rights movement, in working to make journalism a more welcoming place for people of color and thus increase its diversity, and her struggles to report on her culture in a way that gave enlightenment rather than reinforcing stereotypes.
Given Gilliam's experience as a journalist, it is no surprise that the book is well-written, well-sourced, and intelligent. Gilliam's authorial voice is frank and direct. Getting a look into the newsroom, as well as life for people of color during both Jim Crow (Gilliam grew up in the segregated South) and the civil rights movement gives an immensely useful perspective.
Highly recommended.
Dorothy Butler Gilliam was also a "first" - the first black female reporter at the Washington Post. Having come from covering the Little Rock Nine for one of the country's leading black newspapers, she brought with her a level of experience and talent that could not be ignored by the managing editor.
In her memoir, Gilliam describes her work in the civil rights movement, in working to make journalism a more welcoming place for people of color and thus increase its diversity, and her struggles to report on her culture in a way that gave enlightenment rather than reinforcing stereotypes.
Given Gilliam's experience as a journalist, it is no surprise that the book is well-written, well-sourced, and intelligent. Gilliam's authorial voice is frank and direct. Getting a look into the newsroom, as well as life for people of color during both Jim Crow (Gilliam grew up in the segregated South) and the civil rights movement gives an immensely useful perspective.
Highly recommended.
May 21, 2019
Heard an interview with the author and was really excited about this book. It definitely had its interesting parts and I feel like I've been better educated about the challenges faced by black women in particular during this time period. But the book was difficult. There were paragraphs and paragraphs throughout just listing people she knew and worked with, and I'm afraid I just don't really know who any of them are for the most part.
It was also kind of repetitive because it didn't tell her story straight through, but kind of jumped around in different time periods, talking about her personal life and then going back to her professional life. The organization just made it difficult for me to keep track of what was happening when and really took away from the book.
It was also kind of repetitive because it didn't tell her story straight through, but kind of jumped around in different time periods, talking about her personal life and then going back to her professional life. The organization just made it difficult for me to keep track of what was happening when and really took away from the book.
April 16, 2019
Dorothy Butler Gilliam’s book was captivating to me as I kept reading about all of her life struggles with her job, husband,and peers at the workplace and not to mention how she faced them head on. And I was excited to learn about her accomplishments in helping change the mindset through her writing about the civil rights movement, feminism, and a flawed diversity in the workplace.
Learning about how passionate Ms. Gilliam was about her work as a journalist gave me PAUSE thinking about that era during the civil rights movement and the Jim Crow stigma. I never would have thought a black journalist would be faced with the same obstacles as other black skilled occupations. And I’m not sure why I that thought had even crossed my mind, because if you were colored you were going to be treated as such. Again, it was an joy reading her book and was very hard for me to put it down.
Learning about how passionate Ms. Gilliam was about her work as a journalist gave me PAUSE thinking about that era during the civil rights movement and the Jim Crow stigma. I never would have thought a black journalist would be faced with the same obstacles as other black skilled occupations. And I’m not sure why I that thought had even crossed my mind, because if you were colored you were going to be treated as such. Again, it was an joy reading her book and was very hard for me to put it down.
February 12, 2022
I’ve been wanting to read this memoir since last year and I’m glad I got to it now. It’s an inspiring story of a Black woman who braved all odds to achieve accolades in her profession while also being an active part of the civil rights movement and many other defining moments in American history. The book is not an easy read because it’s a bit dry and it also has mentions of many names I was unfamiliar with, which kinda made it boring to get through. The non chronological order also confused me a bit, especially because I was listening to the audiobook. But overall, this was an enlightening book about a pioneering woman who made it easier for many other woman of color to be able to choose journalism as their career, and helped diversify such an important and impactful field.
March 20, 2019
There are some really interesting moments here, but the delivery was too "oral history" for my attention span's literary snobbery. There were also name dropping sections and repetitive sections I skipped over.
February 6, 2020
I enjoyed learning about a black trailblazer and pioneer that doesn’t get much recognition. Her stories serve as a mode of inspiration and courage for her continue work and drive. I gave three stars as I felt in some sections it became redundant and repetitive. None the less I enjoyed the book.
October 20, 2020
What a great story!! As a journalist, Gilliam interacted with so many greats such as Dorothy Height, Vernon Jordan and the controversial Ernest Withers.
November 16, 2019
This was a bookclub read for me. Reading the synopsis of the book, I might have been intrigued to read it for recreational purposes, but seeing that I knew nothing of Ms. Dorothy Butler Gilliam, I may not have picked this book to read on my own.
Ms. Dorothy Butler Gilliam was the "first black woman" to be hired by the Washington Post in 1961. During that time, the country was divided tumultuously between blacks and whites. African Americans at that time were living in the Jim Crow "separate but equal" days. Segregation was everywhere, and Blacks could not vote freely or without discrimination. Being the "first Black" to do anything was exceptionally historical, and it allowed other Blacks to be able to follow in the footsteps of that first Black. Understanding that significance of being the first Black journalist for a white newspaper is significant.
I was ready and interested in learning all about this integration of Ms. Gilliam's opportunity to be the first Black woman as a journalist for Washington Post. The beginning of her book in her section 'Coming to the Washington Post 1961' was enthralling. I couldn't imagine being the first Black person or woman trying to integrate something. Doing so takes a great deal of courage, tenacity, bravery, and patience when dealing with the racial tensions during that time. You have to remember, Black people were highly discriminated against, dogs were attacking them for voting, water hoses were used on them for trying to eat dinner in the same place as a white person. Any form of fighting for equality met African Americans with staunch resistance and violence. Ms. Gilliam talks about not being able to eat in the same restaurants as her coworkers. She discusses how she was unable to catch cabs to get to appointments to write her reports or conduct interviews. Learning how she navigated to get around those obstacles intrigued me. I was rooting for her success.
Those first 120 pages were quite impressive! Unfortunately, the rest of the book kind of fizzles out from there. She tells and retells parts of her life in multiple sections of the book. The timeline isn't all the way linear, and you can easily get lost as to her chronology that she's telling her story in. The writing is very difficult to get used to. I can see her reporting style of writing in this memoir, but as a reader I don't want to read a report, nor do I want to feel as if I'm reading a history book. Yet here I was struggling to digest all of her information she shared with her audience. It seems that there are large sections of the book where it seems like this is almost a self-righteous brag book, all while name-dropping and ensuring her readers that she knows people. I felt disconnected in many places because these people that she listed, I just don't know or have the curiosity to know. I wanted to know about her and how she was a pioneer as the first black woman and what her experiences were, but I had little to no interest in the people she was determined to list in her book.
There are sections and sentences in her book that are contradictory. For example, on the first page she talks about how conservative she was... asking that more be done for people of color, but later in the book she's almost reprimanded for being so liberal. She also talked about her project of getting more youth of diverse backgrounds interested in a career path of journalism. She talks about how a friend of hers introduced her to a concept program and gave very appealing information that would help her bring more young people into a career of writing and journalism. However, she was hesitant and slow on deciding. Yet, later on she writes how quickly she came to that decision, as if she was just waiting for an opportunity to come along. She also talks one way with the reader, but if she has to write something about that same subject, she gives it a better appeal and makes it to sound as if it was a great idea.
There were a couple of instances in which I thought to myself that I believe Washington Post just kept her on as a writer because of her historical accomplishment of being the first Black woman. Although she may have been good with reporting and her journalistic style, it sounds as if she was a timid/shy woman who didn't stand up to aggression easy, which may have been one of the key reasons as to why she was hired in the first place. I had a hard time with her stand on criticizing The Oprah Winfrey Show because a local show was cancelled. Here, Ms. Gilliam lost me because she was supposed to be an advocate for successful women of color, and here is one making national syndicated news, and she didn't like that. I was baffled!
After awhile I was counting down to when I would be done with the book. The ending was really not my style and was full of name dropping and accomplishments with them. It was reporting heavy, and not an easy style to keep readers engaged. While I loved her story of integrating on the behalf of Black Women, I didn't care for the huge emphasis she placed on others' accomplishments.
The ending of the book dropped this rating down to a 3. Sorry! I know our stories are important as women of color, I just cannot recommend this book to others knowing how I feel about this feeling.
Ms. Dorothy Butler Gilliam was the "first black woman" to be hired by the Washington Post in 1961. During that time, the country was divided tumultuously between blacks and whites. African Americans at that time were living in the Jim Crow "separate but equal" days. Segregation was everywhere, and Blacks could not vote freely or without discrimination. Being the "first Black" to do anything was exceptionally historical, and it allowed other Blacks to be able to follow in the footsteps of that first Black. Understanding that significance of being the first Black journalist for a white newspaper is significant.
I was ready and interested in learning all about this integration of Ms. Gilliam's opportunity to be the first Black woman as a journalist for Washington Post. The beginning of her book in her section 'Coming to the Washington Post 1961' was enthralling. I couldn't imagine being the first Black person or woman trying to integrate something. Doing so takes a great deal of courage, tenacity, bravery, and patience when dealing with the racial tensions during that time. You have to remember, Black people were highly discriminated against, dogs were attacking them for voting, water hoses were used on them for trying to eat dinner in the same place as a white person. Any form of fighting for equality met African Americans with staunch resistance and violence. Ms. Gilliam talks about not being able to eat in the same restaurants as her coworkers. She discusses how she was unable to catch cabs to get to appointments to write her reports or conduct interviews. Learning how she navigated to get around those obstacles intrigued me. I was rooting for her success.
Those first 120 pages were quite impressive! Unfortunately, the rest of the book kind of fizzles out from there. She tells and retells parts of her life in multiple sections of the book. The timeline isn't all the way linear, and you can easily get lost as to her chronology that she's telling her story in. The writing is very difficult to get used to. I can see her reporting style of writing in this memoir, but as a reader I don't want to read a report, nor do I want to feel as if I'm reading a history book. Yet here I was struggling to digest all of her information she shared with her audience. It seems that there are large sections of the book where it seems like this is almost a self-righteous brag book, all while name-dropping and ensuring her readers that she knows people. I felt disconnected in many places because these people that she listed, I just don't know or have the curiosity to know. I wanted to know about her and how she was a pioneer as the first black woman and what her experiences were, but I had little to no interest in the people she was determined to list in her book.
There are sections and sentences in her book that are contradictory. For example, on the first page she talks about how conservative she was... asking that more be done for people of color, but later in the book she's almost reprimanded for being so liberal. She also talked about her project of getting more youth of diverse backgrounds interested in a career path of journalism. She talks about how a friend of hers introduced her to a concept program and gave very appealing information that would help her bring more young people into a career of writing and journalism. However, she was hesitant and slow on deciding. Yet, later on she writes how quickly she came to that decision, as if she was just waiting for an opportunity to come along. She also talks one way with the reader, but if she has to write something about that same subject, she gives it a better appeal and makes it to sound as if it was a great idea.
There were a couple of instances in which I thought to myself that I believe Washington Post just kept her on as a writer because of her historical accomplishment of being the first Black woman. Although she may have been good with reporting and her journalistic style, it sounds as if she was a timid/shy woman who didn't stand up to aggression easy, which may have been one of the key reasons as to why she was hired in the first place. I had a hard time with her stand on criticizing The Oprah Winfrey Show because a local show was cancelled. Here, Ms. Gilliam lost me because she was supposed to be an advocate for successful women of color, and here is one making national syndicated news, and she didn't like that. I was baffled!
After awhile I was counting down to when I would be done with the book. The ending was really not my style and was full of name dropping and accomplishments with them. It was reporting heavy, and not an easy style to keep readers engaged. While I loved her story of integrating on the behalf of Black Women, I didn't care for the huge emphasis she placed on others' accomplishments.
The ending of the book dropped this rating down to a 3. Sorry! I know our stories are important as women of color, I just cannot recommend this book to others knowing how I feel about this feeling.
February 28, 2019
"As an accomplished woman with a graduate degree to face such daily slights, I felt not only pained but "less than," "inferior," "not good enough"-not for what I did or did not do, but simply because of who I was."
"Controlling my temper, I made a mental note that I would someday find a way to fight against such arrogance, ignorance, and white supremacy."
"Most of my classmates were products of Western society and Western triumphalism, were studying at the best school of journalism in America to prepare for an occupation where they hoped to wield the power of the pen to influence people and events at home and abroad."
"Black journalists shared all the problems of white reporters-as a largely Northern antagonistic press confronting fiercely hostile white populations-but in addition, we faced the actual circumstances of segregation: we could not check into a hotel, eat in restaurants, use public restrooms, or drink from water fountains as the white journalists did."
"And, was the norm for white faces on TV cameras, no one has ever been arrested or charged for the beatings that resulted in Mr. Wilson's death."
"As most educated black Americans of my generation were, I was raised bicultural. I had been steeped in Western thought and tradition and read some of the same books in school as my white classmates had."
"Blacks had to know about white culture, but whites did not need to know about black culture."
"As the daughter of an educated mother forced by segregation to work as a maid and of a college-educated father, I had seen notions of white superiority debunked by my parents' example, but the South's gender bias was not discussed."
"Part of my journey was to learn to be happy, whatever my circumstances."
"Southern whites often had a veneer of courtesy and were not unkind to Blacks in daily interaction, as long as the whites retained a position of authority. They wanted us to stay in our place but, like Byrd, would help us in small ways so they could have a good conscience, while maintaining their power and superiority."
"While media has a powerful influence on the national mood, it also reflects it."
"My parents, community, church, black history professors like Lincoln University's Dr. Lorenzo Green, and the ancestors had put too much into me for me to adapt my views to fit the changing tide."
"Controlling my temper, I made a mental note that I would someday find a way to fight against such arrogance, ignorance, and white supremacy."
"Most of my classmates were products of Western society and Western triumphalism, were studying at the best school of journalism in America to prepare for an occupation where they hoped to wield the power of the pen to influence people and events at home and abroad."
"Black journalists shared all the problems of white reporters-as a largely Northern antagonistic press confronting fiercely hostile white populations-but in addition, we faced the actual circumstances of segregation: we could not check into a hotel, eat in restaurants, use public restrooms, or drink from water fountains as the white journalists did."
"And, was the norm for white faces on TV cameras, no one has ever been arrested or charged for the beatings that resulted in Mr. Wilson's death."
"As most educated black Americans of my generation were, I was raised bicultural. I had been steeped in Western thought and tradition and read some of the same books in school as my white classmates had."
"Blacks had to know about white culture, but whites did not need to know about black culture."
"As the daughter of an educated mother forced by segregation to work as a maid and of a college-educated father, I had seen notions of white superiority debunked by my parents' example, but the South's gender bias was not discussed."
"Part of my journey was to learn to be happy, whatever my circumstances."
"Southern whites often had a veneer of courtesy and were not unkind to Blacks in daily interaction, as long as the whites retained a position of authority. They wanted us to stay in our place but, like Byrd, would help us in small ways so they could have a good conscience, while maintaining their power and superiority."
"While media has a powerful influence on the national mood, it also reflects it."
"My parents, community, church, black history professors like Lincoln University's Dr. Lorenzo Green, and the ancestors had put too much into me for me to adapt my views to fit the changing tide."
March 29, 2019
I was really excited to read this because the description sounded interesting and I was intrigued by Ms. Gilliam's life, but I had a tough time finishing this book.
She told some good stories in the beginning of the book, but she started losing me in the middle with her story telling style. It felt like she was jumping back and forth in time and telling the same story multiple times from different angles. There were a lot of sections where she seemed to be doing name dropping that didn't feel relevant. In the end, I seemed to spend more time seeing how many pages were left, which was disappointing since there were some sections where she had some great stories and insight on society.
She told some good stories in the beginning of the book, but she started losing me in the middle with her story telling style. It felt like she was jumping back and forth in time and telling the same story multiple times from different angles. There were a lot of sections where she seemed to be doing name dropping that didn't feel relevant. In the end, I seemed to spend more time seeing how many pages were left, which was disappointing since there were some sections where she had some great stories and insight on society.
January 26, 2019
Another super important book about the work being done to improve diversity in journalism and the people we owe a debt of gratitude.
May 1, 2020
Butler recalls her struggles as a female African American reporter during the 60's and the highlights of her career until retirement.
August 30, 2021
What I respect about ‘Trailblazer’ is the overall sentiment. Ms. Gilliam hails from humble beginnings during a demanding era. She’s “not a yeller and a screamer” but “loved being a ‘star performer’” focused on bringing ‘black female sensibilities on events and stories to a broader audience.’ So loved that part.
I also couldn't help but be impressed by the many ‘other’ star performers she’s met; Winston Churchill… Alex Haley….Sterling Brown… working with Maury Povich ...interviewing Ayatollah Khomeini…writing Paul Robeson’s biography! Her association with Woodson (the man who not only started negro history week (currently Black History Month) …but challenged students to think critically) had to be a favorite. That quote (how the ‘mis-educated, mis-educates others’) is particularly relevant in relation to the overall premise. It seemed to be why (for example) it wasn’t known (during the Regan era) “there were so many Archie Bunkers.” It’s also why (I like to think) I got that offhand “go slow” quip. Ms. Gilliam wanted to ‘get it right’, hoping to humble a 400-year old (plus) dogmatic ignorance crippling an otherwise logical system by reporting on and bringing ‘black female sensibilities on events and stories to broader audiences’. It was a job well done. Thank you, Ms. Gilliam. Highly recommended!
I also couldn't help but be impressed by the many ‘other’ star performers she’s met; Winston Churchill… Alex Haley….Sterling Brown… working with Maury Povich ...interviewing Ayatollah Khomeini…writing Paul Robeson’s biography! Her association with Woodson (the man who not only started negro history week (currently Black History Month) …but challenged students to think critically) had to be a favorite. That quote (how the ‘mis-educated, mis-educates others’) is particularly relevant in relation to the overall premise. It seemed to be why (for example) it wasn’t known (during the Regan era) “there were so many Archie Bunkers.” It’s also why (I like to think) I got that offhand “go slow” quip. Ms. Gilliam wanted to ‘get it right’, hoping to humble a 400-year old (plus) dogmatic ignorance crippling an otherwise logical system by reporting on and bringing ‘black female sensibilities on events and stories to broader audiences’. It was a job well done. Thank you, Ms. Gilliam. Highly recommended!
March 18, 2019
This book is the story of the first black woman to work as a journalist at the Washington Post. And what a story it is--the first section of the book is riveting, 5-star stuff, as Gilliam recounts her early days at the Post and her experiences reporting on the civil rights movement. Her experience in the segregated south at a time of such intense tension is harrowing, and both the atrocities and bravery she witnessed make for a very engaging story. After such a strong beginning, the rest of the book is less exciting, and near the end it becomes rather dry, but Gilliam's story is important, and the lens she brings to all aspects of her life, as a black woman trying to increase opportunities for her community makes this a really engaging memoir. She has seen so much during her life--all the way from segregation to the election of the first black president. Would recommend!
Also, the author's interview on the Daily Show is great:
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/1zfb36/...
Also, the author's interview on the Daily Show is great:
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/1zfb36/...
March 9, 2019
WOW! What a life Ms Gilliam has lead. The descriptions of her early days on the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement are gripping. Imagine, three weeks into a new job & you are thrusted into one of the most memorable events in our history. The courage it took to go to Little Rock after seeing your boss being beaten on national television is just jaw-dropping. Wow.
However.... The book does slow down once Ms Gilliam goes into her years as a Style editor for The Washington Post. (It's not her fault though. Interviewing Sammy Davis Jr isn't nearly as compelling as covering James Meredith's integration of Ole Miss.) And do keep in mind, the book does not tell Ms Gilliam's story in a straight line. It will jump around from time to time, but you can tell she was a journalist when you are reading this. She is concise yet descriptive, and I appreciate her succinct & to the point style of writing. I also appreciate all she has tried to do to make journalism a better place for those who are not white males. Kudos.
However.... The book does slow down once Ms Gilliam goes into her years as a Style editor for The Washington Post. (It's not her fault though. Interviewing Sammy Davis Jr isn't nearly as compelling as covering James Meredith's integration of Ole Miss.) And do keep in mind, the book does not tell Ms Gilliam's story in a straight line. It will jump around from time to time, but you can tell she was a journalist when you are reading this. She is concise yet descriptive, and I appreciate her succinct & to the point style of writing. I also appreciate all she has tried to do to make journalism a better place for those who are not white males. Kudos.
April 9, 2019
Very intriguing story. Drags a little in the middle but well worth the read
April 4, 2019
The author, Dorothy Butler Gilliam, tells the story of her career as a black female journalist at a time when there were few women journalists and really no black females in the field. She seemed to know even as a teenager what she wanted to do and despite the many barriers to her in performing her job, she was tenacious and focused and ultimately succeeded in making a path for other people of color to follow. She must have an eidetic memory or at least have kept copious notes throughout her career because every paragraph has an almost exhausting amount of detail. When she names a person, she gives an account of the person's past accomplishments, friends, family and associations with organizations. It is a bit overwhelming, but she seems to want to give the reader the sense that her success is founded upon the progress that her predecessors made, and she did not just appear out of nowhere but rather was the beneficiary of a rich, established tradition of scholarship and activism in the black community. This book includes "A Black Press Time Line and Current Aftican American Newspapers" beginning in 1827.
May 22, 2020
The content was an immense letdown and I had to push myself to finish it. And to top it all off, the narrator’s voice is not a good fit for the content.
The author starts her memoir jumping right into stories –giving no background about herself or life context. She does a better job of describing other people’s lives/context around reporting (which is most of it) than she does talking about her career. With very few exceptions, doesn’t include herself in the “we” when talking about Black and POC experiences in journalism overall. She occasionally does it when talking about her and other Black journalists at whatever paper at which she’s working in that point in time. She also uses “Blacks;” it could be argued that it’s a sign of her generation, but there ain’t an elder alive or dead that I’ve known that has referred to us as “Blacks.”
Her experience with/at NABJ at the very end was the most interesting of it all, and I very much appreciate and respect her desire to invest in future journalists.
The author starts her memoir jumping right into stories –giving no background about herself or life context. She does a better job of describing other people’s lives/context around reporting (which is most of it) than she does talking about her career. With very few exceptions, doesn’t include herself in the “we” when talking about Black and POC experiences in journalism overall. She occasionally does it when talking about her and other Black journalists at whatever paper at which she’s working in that point in time. She also uses “Blacks;” it could be argued that it’s a sign of her generation, but there ain’t an elder alive or dead that I’ve known that has referred to us as “Blacks.”
Her experience with/at NABJ at the very end was the most interesting of it all, and I very much appreciate and respect her desire to invest in future journalists.
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March 20, 2021Really, really interesting! Dorothy Butler Gilliam has lived through incredible historical events and her stories and perspective are invaluable. They are incredible and sobering and important.
The book is a little bit repetitive, with lots of names and lists in some places, but I’d still recommend.
The book is a little bit repetitive, with lots of names and lists in some places, but I’d still recommend.
April 18, 2019
I found Dorothy Butler Gilliam’s memoir Trailblazer to be a great read! It was another read that informed me what it is like to be the first and black in a career pre and post civil rights in this country. As was the case with Ms. Gilliam being the first back female reporter at the Washington Post. Being a Southerner I am familiar with so much that occurred that paved the way for people of color to walk through previously closed doors so I really appreciate having a close and historical account of what it actually cost a person to succeed and survive during those difficult times!
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Ms. Gilliam family of origin, environment, and the supportive community (i.e., neighbors, teachers, church) because it confirmed to me how we as a people made it over and how she made it over. I ended this read feeling like I not only learned about Ms. Gilliam’s experiences before and after as the first Black female reporter at the “Post” and all that entailed, but I learned so much about an incredible woman! A woman who persevered as a human being (i.e, self-esteem, food & health issues), employee, wife, and mother admidst
the dogged elements of segregation and sexism.
I too like the fact Ms. Gilliam maintained her passion and advocacy by being integrally involved then and now to bring various people of color into the many facets of journalism. She didn’t lose her true authentic self and she fought and continually fights so people of color stories will be represented accurately, objectively and professionally. “Trailblazer” is loaded with familiar and unfamiliar notorieties, and saturated with historicity, but I wanted to press through because I hope to have perceived what Ms. Gilliam is trying to convey to her readers. And perhaps that is, “It really does take a village before and after to bring about change and progress for the future!” An amazing take away for me from “Trailblazer” was a love of self, family, a people, and faith. A worthwhile read!
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Ms. Gilliam family of origin, environment, and the supportive community (i.e., neighbors, teachers, church) because it confirmed to me how we as a people made it over and how she made it over. I ended this read feeling like I not only learned about Ms. Gilliam’s experiences before and after as the first Black female reporter at the “Post” and all that entailed, but I learned so much about an incredible woman! A woman who persevered as a human being (i.e, self-esteem, food & health issues), employee, wife, and mother admidst
the dogged elements of segregation and sexism.
I too like the fact Ms. Gilliam maintained her passion and advocacy by being integrally involved then and now to bring various people of color into the many facets of journalism. She didn’t lose her true authentic self and she fought and continually fights so people of color stories will be represented accurately, objectively and professionally. “Trailblazer” is loaded with familiar and unfamiliar notorieties, and saturated with historicity, but I wanted to press through because I hope to have perceived what Ms. Gilliam is trying to convey to her readers. And perhaps that is, “It really does take a village before and after to bring about change and progress for the future!” An amazing take away for me from “Trailblazer” was a love of self, family, a people, and faith. A worthwhile read!
October 18, 2018
Growing up in the South during the Jim Crow era, certainly left Dorothy Butler Gilliam well aware of what it was like to be considered a second-class citizen. Her family, church and community, however, left her well aware that she was loved, was a valuable person, and could succeed in life. Add to that Mrs. Gilliam's burning ambition, and you have a woman who started knocking down barriers in the field of journalism, beginning in the 1960s. After getting a master's degree at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, she went to work at the Washington Post in 1961.
As the first black female reporter hired by the paper, she would soon learn that some of her colleagues would totally snub her outside of the office. She also would soon notice that while blacks made up the majority of the population in Washington, D.C., no one would ever be able to tell that by the stories the Post was publishing. Mrs. Gilliam spent much, if not all, of her years at the paper trying to remedy that travesty, too. Eventually, she would get her own column, something that she very much wanted and valued.
Dorothy Butler Gilliam gives credit where credit is due in this memoir. There is no shortage of naming names and honoring those who helped the newspaper world become more diversified, both in their employment practices and in the stories they ran. All those individual and events mentioned, however, sometimes gave the book more of a record feeling, as opposed to a memoir feeling. That in itself is not bad, except that those readers not in the field of journalism, may find it a bit too easy to start skimming over various parts of the story. Nevertheless, it's important to have a record of all that happened in the author's life. It's important to see that some individuals never stopped trying to obliterate all aspects of Jim Crow.
(Note: I received a free ARC of this book from Amazon Vine.)
As the first black female reporter hired by the paper, she would soon learn that some of her colleagues would totally snub her outside of the office. She also would soon notice that while blacks made up the majority of the population in Washington, D.C., no one would ever be able to tell that by the stories the Post was publishing. Mrs. Gilliam spent much, if not all, of her years at the paper trying to remedy that travesty, too. Eventually, she would get her own column, something that she very much wanted and valued.
Dorothy Butler Gilliam gives credit where credit is due in this memoir. There is no shortage of naming names and honoring those who helped the newspaper world become more diversified, both in their employment practices and in the stories they ran. All those individual and events mentioned, however, sometimes gave the book more of a record feeling, as opposed to a memoir feeling. That in itself is not bad, except that those readers not in the field of journalism, may find it a bit too easy to start skimming over various parts of the story. Nevertheless, it's important to have a record of all that happened in the author's life. It's important to see that some individuals never stopped trying to obliterate all aspects of Jim Crow.
(Note: I received a free ARC of this book from Amazon Vine.)
January 23, 2020
Too many names. Too much. Not a fun read but a book that was driven by her personal journey from "first" in a prominent paper, Washington Post, to a leader in getting things changed. Hoped that there would be more about "Watergate" and the "Vietnam" papers but it was glassed over. Do you have an opinion on O.J.? How about Bill Cosby? "Black lives matter". Just to concentrate on the numbers and avoid a perspective on media "pick and choice". The Washington Post has always struck me as a paper for political use. The Style section that raise the issue of entertainment was tremendous. It was just a eye opener for consumers of entertainment about the medias' mis-treatment of the fine and great entertainers that were shunned by most papers. Enjoyed but then it took off in another direction. Paul Robeson story and fall from grace by the Washington purge is a glimpse of the paranoid of society. It was sad. Will be a book I will be reading soon. Later. Keep Reading.
May 13, 2019
I was very interested in reading Gilliam's story, but I gave up after one chapter which needed some serious editing. Chronologically, the narrative jumped back and forth through her experiences at the Post, to J school at Columbia, to high school, to civil rights leaders, and in no particular order. One paragraph contained several unrelated sentences.
Considering this is a memoir of a reporter who later became an editor, I am totally flummoxed. The Post had a reputation for quality writing and superb editing. How could this woman have ever been part of that.
Considering this is a memoir of a reporter who later became an editor, I am totally flummoxed. The Post had a reputation for quality writing and superb editing. How could this woman have ever been part of that.
May 19, 2019
An incredible woman, but I don't think she did her own story justice. The narrative seemed to follow no logical order, jumped around a lot, went too deep into oral history/reporting without including her personal perspectives or experiences (which is what I was wanting), and got really repetitive. Glad I read it, but was expecting more of a memoir and less of a biographical historical account of that time period.
August 7, 2019
I found this book enlightening. I continue to be amazed by the courageous blacks of the civil rights era who opened doors for others. But like so many other readers I found the strong story in the beginning caused the rest of book to drag. Still it is worth reading. I learned so much. I was not aware of her husband who is an interesting artist worthy of his own story.
September 18, 2019
This book reminds me just how important the black media is. Gilliam's journey through her career takes you into important historic events. I liked this book and would recommend this book to those who like history or journalism.
October 26, 2019
An important and inspiring memoir by the first black woman reporter at The Washington Post, but I had such a hard time reading this. I’m glad I read it, but wish the writing style was a bit more approachable.
January 6, 2020
Gilliam’s career is impressive and I loved reading her experiences as she bore witness to history. However, covering 75 years in one book made for a confusing timeline and a bizarre repetition of the same information over and over again.
January 20, 2019
Please see my review on Amazon. com under C. Wong. Thank you,
March 13, 2019
3.5 stars. Very interesting but irritatingly repetitive throughout the book.
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