Rh972116@ohio.edu
The Alvin Adams Symposium took place in remembrance of the first African American OU journalist. Alvin Adams will be remembered for his fantastic work that he did at Jet magazine. Alvin is remembered fondly by his community for not only the work he did as a reporter but the words he spoke as motivation to his friends and family.
Alvin's daughter was the first speaker of the day at the symposium, and she did not hold anything back about her father. Her stories touched me, unlike other parents who traditionally would spank their children as a form of discipline, Alvin chose to lecture his kids but rather than yell at them he went with a more nonviolent approach. His daughter described wishing that she could be spanked like the other kids when she was younger but now learned to appreciate his reasoning. Alvin showed his children pictures and stories of African Americans tortured and hurt during the civil rights era, he was very honest about the past and wanted to make sure his children understood that.
Alvin's daughter also discussed how Alvin made her understand her worth from a very young age, when Alvin's daughter talked about the first time she felt different from the other girls around her, he sat her down and talked it out. It was interesting to me how he described her as such a good listener. Alvin never rushed when talking to his daughter. He gave her all the time she needed to explain what she was going through. Alvin never responded with traditional parental advice such as "they just want to make themselves feel better," or anything like that, he listened and respected his daughter until she felt better.
Alvins personality traits reflected himself as a journalist. Just like he treated his family with respect, he treated every story with respect. When speaking to people about their stories, he had the ability to remain patient and get to the last detail. Alvin's daughter described him as "relentless" in pursuing a story, and that he would never stop until he had every last detail. It was this drive to finish that made Alvin Adams so accomplished in the journalism field. Despite the man no longer being alive he is still well represented even on billboards.
At the end of his career Alvin didn't stop inspiring others. In his community he continued to work after he moved back to Athens in 1998. Alvin founded a multicultural center in Athens and worked with the community to become more diverse. Alvin passed away in 2006 and something his daughter said gave me chills. One of her last conversations with her father was about where his funeral would be and she said that Alvin wanted it at a small church because he thought no one would come. Alvin's daughter said hundreds showed up to the two day standing room only funeral.
Alvin's legacy left a mark on me as a journalist. I will never meet the man personally, but I wish I could have. Listening to his daughters stories made me question myself as a journalist and as a man. I ask myself what kind of man do I want to be? A traditional one who yells at his kids and gets just enough facts to get by as a journalist? Or one who respects those around him and leaves no stone left unturned.
 |
| Photo of live stream by Kevin Price |
No comments:
Post a Comment