By Ashleigh Fields
Special to the AFRO
The Washington Informer has long captured the stories of the residents, leaders and communities that infuse vibrant culture into the District of Columbia. For six decades the paper has been a voice for people in D.C. and beyond.
In honor of the Informer’s anniversary, the publication, which serves one of the many pillars of the Black Press, held their Legacy Awards Gala on March 28.
Pictures worth a thousand words were plastered across the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in the heart of “Uptown,” showcasing moments of Black history and culture both big and small. Guests were able to see great moments in Black history, such as legends like Coretta Scott King, Shirley Chisolm and Rosa Parks embracing. Images such as these can’t be found in textbooks, proving the importance of the role of Black media.
This was on the mind of founder Calvin Rolark when he founded the paper in 1964.
“He understood if we wanted to move forward as a race, we needed to see positive images of ourselves,” Ron Burke, director of advertising and marketing told the crowd gathered to learn more about the paper’s success story.
His sentiments are one that would be echoed throughout the night by family, friends and patrons of the Informer.
“Every community needs an anchor and this newspaper is an anchor in our community,” Charles Motte Jr. of DC Small Business Development Center told the AFRO.
“It has been so, obviously, for 60 years, but it’s something that has to live on in the future, given its important role in terms of communication, especially in these days and ages,” he added.
The Informer has kept a record of many days and several ages, including the District’s pilgrimage to electoral power and congressional representation. The paper vehemently chronicled the city’s storied journey toward the Home Rule Act, which granted Washingtonians a chance at having their own local government, restoring the rights and responsibilities typically held by a municipality.
“The beauty of an archive like ours is that we are able to, in the spirit of Sankofa, return to the stories and understand how our ancestors navigated challenges,” Micha Green, managing editor of the Informer, said during her remarks.
“At a time when federal leaders are threatening to revoke funding for teaching parts of Black history–I don’t know if y’all saw that executive order today with the Smithsonian, there’s some stuff happening–but our amazing boss, Denise Rolark Barnes, tells us every week the value of what we’re doing,” Green added.
Denise grew up and learned about activism and the world around her under the wings of her father, Calvin and his partner, attorney Wilhelmina Jackson Rolark, affectionately referred to as a Home Rule soldier, who served on the District of Columbia’s Council for four terms.
The pair of activists were instrumental in the election of Washington, D.C.’s first formal delegate, the Rev. Walter Fauntroy. The D.C. pastor, along with other stalwarts of the Civil Rights Movement, such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, would be closely observed by a young girl who would grow to fill the shoes of her family’s publishing company as an adult.
Her close friends attest to the daunting moment when Denise took over the breathtaking role with grace.
“The Washington Informer was started when I was a little girl. My parents relied on it for information, especially in the Black community. As I evolved and grew up, I too relied on it for information taking place in the Black community. So I think it’s a staple,” Alfreda Edwards, a longtime confidante and classmate of Denise, said.
“It’s a shame that Black newspapers have to struggle the way they do to stay relevant–not so much relevant but to just keep their lights on–but I think she’s done an excellent job with taking over from her father as his legacy and I wish her the best going forward,” Edwards concluded.
Legacy, culture and vision remain the driving factors behind the paper as Rolark Barnes pours into her sons Desmond and Lafayette who have taken on front-facing roles at the company. However, they aren’t the only two benefitting from a past generation.
Lester Davis, vice president and chief of staff of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, attested to the Informer’s investment in his success over 20 years ago at the Legacy Award Gala.
“Over 20 years ago, as a recent college graduate with a dream of serving my community and using my skills as a writer to do something to benefit my community, the folks at the Informer took me in,” Davis said.
“My editor at the time, my health taxpayer, said, send me what you got. Send me your clips. And for weeks and almost a year, I went and I beat the pavement, went to every corner of the city reporting.”
He said the stories both seen, heard and recorded by the Rolarks have molded and nurtured neighborhoods in the District.
“What Ms. Barnes and her family have done for over 60 years is unmatched. They’ve contributed to the education of the community to help us have access and live a better life,” Davis said.
“And so if you think about health as wealth and information as power, you’ve given us additional years. You’ve given us longevity just by doing what we do. And so we want to thank you,” he added.“This is just the beginning. And so we’re going to lock arms with you. We’re going to lock arms with you so we can do something to a higher degree for the community.”
Managing editor Green affirmed his testimony with a promise to continue helping the Informer carry the torch for decades to come.
She told the audience, “I can confidently say, despite all the federal and local challenges, threats, and blatant discrimination against African Americans, immigrants, the LGBTQIA community, and the press, the Washington Informer will continue what we’ve been doing for the past 60 years. We’ll be publishing stories that not only inform, but uplift, inspire, and work toward positive progress and change.”
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