Lee Hawkins (journalist)
Lee Hawkins | |
|---|---|
| Education | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist and musician |
| Known for | Reporter and news editor |
Lee Hawkins, Jr. is an American investigative journalist, series creator, author, musician, and pod-caster. His work documents the lives of Black American descendants of slavery and Jim Crow survivors and the inter generational impact of racial violence and racism on their families.[1] His reporting also addresses people affected by childhood trauma and its long-term effects on health and life expectancy.[2] He was a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2022.[3]
Early life
[edit]Hawkins grew up in Maplewood, Minnesota.[4] His father, Lee Hawkins, Sr., is an Alabama native.[4] He grew up in a musical family. He played in R&B bands and rapped from a young age, balancing his drumming and singing duties on the gospel music scene with his father, a guitarist and vocalist who performed with The Sounds of Blackness and other choirs and groups.[5]
Hawkins attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, graduating with a degree in political science.[6] In University, he was the editorial page editor of the Badger Herald student newspaper.[7]
As a child, Hawkins was exposed to discussions about racism and violence, including witnessing historical depictions of racial violence. This exposure was necessary an early curiosity about his family's place in American history. [8]
Hawkins encountered racism during his upbringing in Minnesota, including instances of racial harassment.[8] Despite these challenges, he excelled academically and was actively involved in his community. As a high school student, he was elected Youth Governor of the State of Minnesota as part of the YMCA Youth in Government Program and participated in Martin Luther King Jr. birthday marches. He received the Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award from Minnesota’s King Holiday Commission for his community service.[2]
In 2015, Hawkins undertook a DNA genealogy test that led him to explore his ancestral roots, which has informed his work as a journalist, author, and podcaster. He has expressed a strong connection to the resilience and experiences of Black Americans, particularly those who lived through the Jim Crow era.[8][9]
Journalism career
[edit]Hawkins began his career as a business reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Wisconsin State Journal.[6]
Hawkins is a reporter and news editor for The Wall Street Journal. Since 2011 he has also done on-camera interviews for the WSJ website and their sister site WSJ Live. He has interviewed celebrities from the business, sports and entertainment worlds,[4] in many cases for a series of segments titled The Business of Celebrity w/ Lee Hawkins.[10]
He is also a regular guest on Fox Business Network.[11]
Hawkins' friend coined the term "NEWBOs", or "New Black Overclass", to describe a younger generation of wealthy and business-savvy African-American celebrities, but it was Hawkins who ran with the idea. In 2009 he presented the CNBC special NEWBOs: The Rise of the New Black Overclass, which profiled LeBron James, Kirk Franklin and Terrell Owens, among others.[12]
Hawkins is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.[4]
Musical career
[edit]Hawkins won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the R&B category in 2011 for his song "I Love You Woman".[13] In 2012 he released the album Midnight Conversations, which included the song.[13]
Hawkins had an on-camera interview with children's music group The Wiggles in 2013 in which he ended up singing with the group. They invited him to sing onstage with them several days later. He then appeared on their 2014 DVD Wiggle House, and was a guest singer (on "This Little Piggy Went to Market") on their 2014 album Apples and Bananas.[11]
In 2015 Hawkins released the Christmas album Songs About the Birth of Jesus, in which he sings with his father.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Lee Hawkins unpacks family history and intergenerational trauma in new podcast". MPR News. 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ a b "MLK Community Celebration focuses on 'Our Beloved Community: Our Work is Not Done Yet' on Jan. 13-17 – St. Cloud State TODAY". today.stcloudstate.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ https://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/staff-wall-street-journal-3
- ^ a b c d e C.J. (November 7, 2015). "Editor, musician Lee Hawkins all business about Christmas CD with dad". Star Tribune.
- ^ C.J (2015-11-07). "C.J.: WSJ editor and musician Lee Hawkins was all business about a Christmas CD with dad". www.startribune.com. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ a b Lee Hawkins profile Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine, The Wall Street Journal
- ^ https://www.wsj.com/news/author/lee-hawkins#:~:text=Hawkins%20holds%20a%20Bachelor's%20degree,of%20Journalism%20and%20Mass%20Communications.
- ^ a b c Yuen, Laura (2024-06-18). "Yuen: Memories of the Jim Crow South haunted a Minnesota man. Then the nightmares terrorized his son". www.startribune.com. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "Lee Hawkins unpacks family history and intergenerational trauma in new podcast". MPR News. 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ The Business of Celebrity w/ Lee Hawkins Archived 2016-03-15 at the Wayback Machine (playlist), YouTube
- ^ a b C.J. (September 4, 2014). "Minnesota's Lee Hawkins "Wiggles" with Australian kiddie rock stars". Star Tribune.
- ^ "A Look at America's New Multimillionaires". Essence. December 16, 2009. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ a b C.J. (July 14, 2012). "Q&A with C.J.: Lee Hawkins, journalist and songwriter". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.