For Black journalists, Sun-Times’ 75th anniversary is a time to look back at those who came before us

Former Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lillian Williams came to the paper in 1973. “When I started at the Sun-Times, there was one other Black person in the newsroom,” she said. “What I quickly found out was I was working on two tracks. I was responsible for my journalism reporting assignments like everyone else, and [Black reporters] were advocates for diversifying the newsroom.” (Sun-Times file)

For decades, letting the world know the plight of Blacks in America fell on the shoulders of journalists like Fletcher Martin.

Martin became the first Black journalist to work with white journalists in the Sun-Times newsroom when he joined the staff as a reporter in 1952 after also being the first Black journalist to be awarded a prestigious Nieman Fellowship.