PABJ 1973
FROM THE LEGENDS WHO LIVED IT

GREG MORRISON

I was a radio reporter at WCAU in 1973 when PABJ was formed. The incident that sparked our coming together was not so much racism by white managers but when a so-called "community activist" took a swing at Chuck Stone. That angered many black reporters who felt it was time to come together.

Once we were all in the same room we also started talking about the problems that existed in our various shops and the common frustrations we felt with no black managers or department heads. Our early meetings were held in a church at Girard and Broad Streets.

Eddie Stinson, then a writer with the Philadelphia Tribune, and I were detailed with drawing up a constitution and bylaws for the group. Working along with Carole Norris, we came up with a document that became the framework for the start of PABJ. Early members included Jerome Mondesire, Acel Moore, Reggie Bryant, Claude Lewis, Sam Pressley, Joe Davidson, Trudy Haynes, Edie Huggins, Bob Perkins, Brahin Ahmaddiya, Charlie Harmon, Elmer Smith, just to name a few.

I cannot give you the exact date (of the founding) but it was around November of that year and we decided to hold a scholarship fundraiser with then-FCC member Benjamin Hooks as the speaker.

Greg Morrison was unable to attend the 30th anniversary celebration on Nov. 19, 2003.

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