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In memory of

Max Robinson

Richmond, VA, USA

May 1, 1939 - December 20, 1988

May 1, 1939 - Dec 20, 1988

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Max Robinson was an American broadcast journalist for ABC News and served as a co-anchor for ABC World News Tonight. He was the first African American broadcast network news anchor in the history of American television. He was also one of the original founders of the National Association of Black Journalists. Robinson began his television journey in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1959 where he applied for a position at a local radio station that had a “white’s only” policy which at the time was legal. Nonetheless, the station owner allowed Robinson to audition for a position along with several white candidates. Robinson was given a job reading the news on the air, although he was told that his face could not be seen. When Robinson protested, he was fired. Afterwards he moved to Washington, D.C. and worked at WTOP-TV as a cameraman trainee and in other behind the scene jobs. Robinson was married several times. He had three children from his first marriage, Mark, Maureen, and Michael. He was also the father to another son, Malik, from his second marriage. His third marriage was to Beverly Hamilton. Rev. Jesse Jackson gave the eulogy at Robinson’s funeral service.

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