Charles Sumner "Chuck" Stone, Jr. (July 21, 1924 – April 6, 2014) was an American pilot, newspaper editor, journalism professor, and author. He was a member of the
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of primarily African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) and airmen who fought in World War II. They formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Fighter Group, 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) of th ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and was the first president of the
National Association of Black Journalists
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is a 501(c)(3) organization, 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational and professional organization of African Americans, African American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 197 ...
, serving from 1975 to 1977. Passionate about racial issues and supportive of many liberal causes, he refused to follow any party line, "but called the issues as he saw them."
[ Sowell, Thomas]
"Chuck Stone (1924–2014)."
TownHall.com, April 11, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
Early life
Chuck Stone was born July 21, 1924, in
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...
, to Charles Sumner Stone Sr and Madeline Chafin and raised in
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...
.
[Jackson, Dennis]
His mother Madeline Chafin was a mixture of African American, Haitian Creole, English, French and Native American descent. needAccess=true&journalCode=rtbs20 "'The Outspoken Mr. Stone': A Conversation With Chuck Stone."
The Black Scholar
''The Black Scholar'' (''TBS'') is a journal founded in California, in 1969, by Robert Chrisman, Nathan Hare, and Allan Ross. It is the third oldest Black studies journal in the US, after the NAACP’s ''The Crisis'' (founded in 1910) and the ' ...
27:1, 1997. 38–57. ''www.tandfonline.com'', April 14, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2017. His father was a business manager for a nearby college, and his mother was a payroll officer for the Hartford Board of Education. Stone graduated from Hartford Public High School in 1942 with honors, and from there proceeded to go into the army.
Stone served in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, where he was member of the
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of primarily African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) and airmen who fought in World War II. They formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Fighter Group, 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) of th ...
. He had already been admitted to
Harvard University
Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
after completing his military service, but chose instead to matriculate at
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the Methodi ...
, receiving degrees in political science and economics. He was the first
African-American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...
undergraduate in several decades at Wesleyan, graduating in the class of 1948 and serving as the commencement speaker. Stone subsequently received a master's degree in sociology from the
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...
. After completing his education, he worked for the Chicago department store
Carson Pirie Scott
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. (also known as Carson's) is an American department store that was founded in 1854, which grew to over 50 locations, primarily in the Midwestern United States. It was sold to the holding company of Bon-Ton in 2006, but sti ...
, serving as the store's first African-American executive. He then studied law for eighteen months at the
University of Connecticut
The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university system with its main campus in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School, named after two benefactors. In 1893, ...
before spending two years in
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
,
Gaza, and
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
as a representative for
CARE
Care may refer to:
Organizations and projects
* CARE (New Zealand), Citizens Association for Racial Equality, a former New Zealand organisation
* CARE (England) West Midlands, Central Accident Resuscitation Emergency team, a team of doctors & ...
.
[
]
Professional career
Journalist and educator
Chuck Stone's career in journalism began in 1958, when his friend Al Duckett, then editor of ''The New York Age
''The New York Age'' was an American weekly newspaper established in 1887 in New York City. It was widely considered one of the most prominent African-American newspapers of its time. '', hired him as a reporter, and then promoted him to editor. Stone also wrote articles for the ''Pittsburgh Courier
The ''Pittsburgh Courier'' was an African American weekly newspaper published in Pittsburgh from 1907 until October 22, 1966. By the 1930s, the ''Courier'' was one of the leading black newspapers in the United States.
It was acquired in 1965 by ...
'' and the Washington D.C. edition of the ''Afro-American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
'' before being hired as editor-in-chief of ''The Chicago Defender
''The Chicago Defender'' is a Chicago-based online African-American newspaper. It was founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott and was once considered the "most important" newspaper of its kind. Abbott's newspaper reported and campaigned against Jim ...
'' in August 1963.
Years later, Stone worked as a columnist for The ''Philadelphia Daily News
''Philadelphia Daily News'' is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper is owned by The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC, which also owns ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', a daily newspaper in Philadelphia.
The ''Dail ...
'' from 1972 to 1991. Stone was very critical of the Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD, Philly PD, or Philly Police) is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the County and City of Philadelphia. The PPD is one of the oldest municipal police agencies, f ...
's record of brutality towards African-Americans, which made him a trusted middleman between Philadelphia police and criminal suspects, more than 75 of whom 'surrendered' to Stone rather than to the cops.
In 1975, he was the M. Lyle Spencer Visiting Professor of Journalism in the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
The Newhouse School of Public Communications (formally S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; also as the Newhouse School) is the communications and journalism school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. The school was named af ...
at Syracuse University
Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...
. He taught journalism at the University of Delaware
The University of Delaware (colloquially known as UD, UDel, or Delaware) is a Statutory college#Delaware, privately governed, state-assisted Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Newark, Delaware, United States. UD offers f ...
for seven years,[ and from 1986 to 1988 he served as the House Advisor for the ]Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights movement from 1955 until his a ...
Humanities House at the University of Delaware
The University of Delaware (colloquially known as UD, UDel, or Delaware) is a Statutory college#Delaware, privately governed, state-assisted Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Newark, Delaware, United States. UD offers f ...
. Stone later became the Walter Spearman Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC, UNC–Chapel Hill, or simply Carolina) is a public university, public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1789, the university first began enrolli ...
, where he retired in 2005.
Stone was nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prizes () are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters". They were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fo ...
, and was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame
The National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame is a hall of fame project of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) honoring African-American and other journalists. The original Hall of Fame list was established on April 5, ...
in August 2004. On March 29, 2007, Stone attended a ceremony in the United States Capitol rotunda
The United States Capitol building features a central rotunda below the Capitol dome. Built between 1818 and 1824, the rotunda has been described as the Capitol's "symbolic and physical heart".
The rotunda is connected by corridors leading so ...
, where he and the other veteran Tuskegee Airmen (or their widows) were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal is the oldest and highest civilian award in the United States, alongside the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is bestowed by vote of the United States Congress, signed into law by the president. The Gold Medal exp ...
by President George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...
in recognition of the Airmen's service during World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.
Stone was known for his passionate and bold personality. The New York Times refers to him as the "Fiery, Trusted Columnist" and journalist Dennis Jackson once did a segment on him titled, "The Outspoken Mr. Stone."
Civil rights
Chuck Stone became associated with the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power movement while working as an editor at Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater ...
's ''New York Age'', the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
''Afro-American'', and the Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
''Daily Defender.'' He also served three years as a special assistant and speechwriter for Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (November 29, 1908 – April 4, 1972) was an American Baptist pastor and politician who represented the Harlem neighborhood of New York City in the United States House of Representatives from 1945 until 1971. He was t ...
of the 22nd congressional district of New York, chair of the House
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...
Education and Labor Committee. In 1966 Stone was a member of a steering committee
A committee or commission is a body of one or more persons subordinate to a deliberative assembly or other form of organization. A committee may not itself be considered to be a form of assembly or a decision-making body. Usually, an assembly o ...
organized by Powell to discuss the meaning of the Black Power Movement.[ Karenga, Maulana]
"Remembering Audacious Black Power: Revisiting the Model and Meaning."
''Los Angeles Sentinel
The ''Los Angeles Sentinel'' is a weekly African-American owned newspaper published in Los Angeles, California. The paper boasted of reaching 125,000 readers , making it one of the oldest, largest and most influential African-American newspaper ...
, July 13, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
In addition, he often served as a mediator between criminals and the police for over 20 years. His most notable role was during the negotiation of the 5-day Graterford Prison hostage crisis of 1981, in which Stone entered negotiations on day 4 of a stalemate between escaped prisoners and 29 hostages. Stone served as a go-between and successfully negotiated the end of the stand-off, for which he "gained wide credibility."
His book, "Black Political Power in America," analyzes ethnic political power as seen in the United States and encourages Black citizens to vote in a block in order to consolidate their voice in America, much as the Italians and Irish did in the past. This work, along with "Tell It Like It Is" and his other articles, draw attention to the racial inequalities in America and advocate for change.
On May 5, 2025 he was posthumously awarded a special citation by the Pulitzer Prizes.
Awards
*Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal is the oldest and highest civilian award in the United States, alongside the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is bestowed by vote of the United States Congress, signed into law by the president. The Gold Medal exp ...
awarded to Tuskegee Airmen in 2006
* Nominated twice for Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prizes () are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters". They were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fo ...
* Free Spirit Award from the Freedom Forum
The Freedom Forum is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all. The organization advances First Amendment freedoms through programs that include Today's Front Pages, the Power Shift Project, the a ...
1993
* Thomas Jefferson Award from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC, UNC–Chapel Hill, or simply Carolina) is a public university, public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1789, the university first began enrolli ...
2002
* Trailblazer Award from Greensboro's Sit-In Movement, Inc. 2005
* Special Citation on 2025 Pulitzer Prize Awards
Personal life
Stone was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. () is the oldest intercollegiate List of African-American fraternities, historically African American Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. It was initially a literary and social studies club organized in the ...
fraternity. He was a member of the fraternity's World Policy Council, a think tank
A think tank, or public policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governme ...
whose purpose is to expand Alpha Phi Alpha's involvement in politics, and social and current policy to encompass international concerns. He was married to Louise Davis Stone for 49 years before they divorced. They are the parents of Krishna Stone, Allegra Stone and Charles Stone III
Charles Stone III (born 1966) is an American film director. He is best known for ''Drumline (film), Drumline'' starring Nick Cannon, ''Mr. 3000'' starring Bernie Mac, and ''Paid in Full (2002 film), Paid in Full''.
Stone directed the video to " ...
, creator and star of the Budweiser "Whassup!" television commercials, and director of movies such as ''Drumline
Marching percussion instruments are percussion instruments (usually drums, such as snare, bass, and tenor drums) specially designed to be played while moving. This is achieved by attaching the drum(s) to a special harness (also called a carrier ...
'', '' Mr. 3000'', and '' Paid In Full''.
Death and legacy
Stone died April 6, 2014, at the age of 89. He was survived by his three children, one grandchild, and two sisters. Bob Butler, president of the NABJ from 2013 to 2015, has named Stone to be the "guiding force behind the NABJ," and the key to the organization's longevity. Butler has credited Stone with helping to improve diversity in newsroom management, stating that "what (diversity) does exist is because of Chuck and the other founders of the NABJ."[Berry, Scott]
"NABJ Mourns the Loss of Founder and Celebrated Journalist Chuck Stone."
''www.nabj.org'', April 6, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2017. The Chuck Stone Program for Diversity in Education and Media is a workshop for rising high school seniors at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, formerly known as the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The program, which began in 2007, honors the legacy of Chuck Stone, who retired from the school in 2005. The Chuck Stone Papers are housed in the Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library as part of the John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University
Duke University is a Private university, private research university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity, North Carolina, Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1 ...
.
In 2025, th
"Pulitzer Prize"
gave Chuck Stone a special citation: "A special citation is awarded to the late Chuck Stone for his groundbreaking work as a journalist covering the Civil Rights Movement, his pioneering role as the first Black columnist at the Philadelphia Daily News–later syndicated to nearly 100 publications–and for co-founding the National Association of Black Journalists 50 years ago."
Written works
Non-fiction
* ''Tell It Like It Is.'' Trident Press
Simon & Schuster LLC (, ) is an American publishing house owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts since 2023. It was founded in New York City in 1924, by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. Along with Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group US ...
, 1967. .
* ''Black Political Power in America.'' Bobbs-Merrill Company
The Bobbs-Merrill Company was an American book publisher active from 1850 until 1985, and located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Company history
The Bobbs-Merrill Company began in 1850 October 3 when Samuel Merrill bought an Indianapolis bookstore ...
, 1968. .
* "Black Political Power in the Carter Era". ''The Black Scholar'' (19776
Fiction
* ''King Strut'' (novel
A novel is an extended work of narrative fiction usually written in prose and published as a book. The word derives from the for 'new', 'news', or 'short story (of something new)', itself from the , a singular noun use of the neuter plural of ...
). Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1970. .
* ''Squizzy the Black Squirrel: A Fabulous Fable of Friendship.'' Open Hand Publishing, 2003. .["Squizzy the Black Squirrel: A Fabulous Fable of Friendship."]
''www.openhand.com.'' Retrieved October 22, 2017.
See also
* Executive Order 9981
Executive Order 9981 was an executive order issued on July 26, 1948, by President Harry S. Truman. It abolished discrimination "on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin" in the United States Armed Forces. The Order led to the r ...
* List of Tuskegee Airmen
List of Tuskegee Airmen contains the names of notable Tuskegee Airmen, who were a group of primarily African-American military pilots (fighter and bomber) and airmen who fought in World War II. The name also applies to the navigators, bombardie ...
* Military history of African Americans
The military history of African Americans spans African-American history, the history of the United States and the military history of the United States from the slavery in the United States, arrival of the first enslaved Africans during the co ...
* ''The Tuskegee Airmen'' (movie)
References
Further reading
* Dennis Jackson. ''Chuck Stone: Man in the Middle: A Story of "Audacious Black Power" in the Newsroom''
* Thomson Gale. '' Contemporary Black Biography.'' Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
: Gail Research Inc., 2005. .
External links
Part One of 1990 WABC-TV ''Like It Is'' interview with Chuck Stone
Chuck Stone papers, 1931–2007, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stone, Chuck
1924 births
2014 deaths
Wesleyan University alumni
United States Army Air Forces officers
Aviators from Missouri
African-American aviators
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faculty
Syracuse University faculty
21st-century African-American people
Posthumous Pulitzer Prize awardees
Posthumous awards
Tuskegee Airmen