Calvin Rolark Explained

Calvin W. Rolark (October 23, 1994) was an American newspaper publisher and activist. Based in Washington, D.C., Rolark founded The Washington Informer and the United Black Fund.[1]

Early life and education

Calvin W. Rolark, Jr., was born in Texarkana, Texas, circa 1927.[1] He received a bachelor's of business administration from Prairie View College (now called Prairie View A&M University) and also attended Tennessee State University, Michigan State University, and Cornell University.[2] He lived in Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1940s, where he worked as an editor of the Memphis World.[3]

Career

Rolark moved from Texas to Washington in either 1952 or 1959.[4] He founded The Washington Informer, a newspaper, in 1962. In 1969, he founded the United Black Fund, a foundation structured similarly to United Way that supported charitable activities for Black and Latino residents in the Washington, D.C., area.[5] [2] [1] Rolark was also affiliated with the United Planning Organization, a charity.[6]

Personal life

Rolark married Wilhelmina Rolark, a Washington politician, in 1963.[7] [1] [4] According to The Washington Post, Wilhelmina and Calvin were "one of the District's preeminent power couples".[3]

Sources

Notes and References

  1. News: Thomas-Lester. Avis. D.C. Publisher, Activist Calvin W. Rolark Dies. October 24, 1994. The Washington Post.
  2. News: Associated Press. Calvin Rolark, 67, civic leader in D.C.. October 25, 1994. 5. The Town Talk. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Levy. Claudia. 1994-10-25. Crusading Publisher Calvin Rolark Dies. en-US. Washington Post. 2021-03-06. 0190-8286.
  4. News: Thomas-Lester. Avis. D.C. Says Goodbye to Activist Calvin Rolark. October 30, 1994. The Washington Post.
  5. Book: Carson, Emmett Devon. A Hand Up: Black Philanthropy and Self-Help in America. 1993. Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. 1-880285-02-9. 26398540. 45–46.
  6. News: Calvin W. Rolark; Founded United Black Fund. October 31, 1994. 18. Los Angeles Times. Newspapers.com.
  7. Book: Davenport. Elizabeth K.. Rolark, Wilhelmina Jackson. The African American National Biography. 2008. Oxford University Press. Gates. Henry Louis Jr.. Henry Louis Gates Jr.. Higginbotham. Evelyn Brooks . Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham. 978-0-19-516019-2. 156816848. 10.1093/acref/9780195301731.013.37772. 676–677.