Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Leonard Pitts, Jr. will be the keynote speaker for Asheville’s 29th annual Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast.
Leonard Pitts began writing professionally as a college student, doing freelance reviews and profiles for SOUL, a national black entertainment tabloid, and he gained national acclaim for “Who We Are,” an award-winning 1988 radio documentary on the history of black America that he wrote, produced, and syndicated. His work has appeared in such publications as Musician, Spin, TV Guide, The Reader’s Digest and Parenting.
He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 and in 1997 he took first place for commentary in division four (newspapers with a circulation of over 300,000) in the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors’ Ninth Annual Writing Awards competition. He has been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, among others, and is a five-time recipient of the National Headliners Award.
In 2001, he received the American Society of Newspaper Editors
prestigious ASNE Award For Commentary Writing and was named Feature of
the Year Columnist by Editor and Publisher magazine. In 2002, the
National Society of Newspaper Columnists awarded Pitts its inaugural
Columnist of the Year award. Also in 2002, GLAAD Media awarded Pitts
the Outstanding Newspaper Columnist award.
Pitts has taught journalism at Hampton University in Hampton,
Virginia (2003-04), and at Ohio University in Athens and Virginia
Commonwealth University in Richmond (2005-06). Leonard Pitts was born
and reared in Southern California. Since 1995 he has lived in Bowie,
Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C., with his wife and five children.
Arts & EntertainmentInternational Ambassador of Hip-Hop, Rennie Harris PuremovementWednesday, 11 January 2012
The preeminent hip-hop dance company in the world, Rennie Harris Puremovement brings pure, contagious stage magic to Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, February 23-24, 2012.
Win Tickets to this Performance!
Click here for details + Full Story
Arts & EntertainmentWin Tickets to the Rennie Harris Puremovement performanceTuesday, 10 January 2012
For Local Middle School or High School Students Only
Question: Please tell us in 200 words or less why Hip-Hop should be considered an art form. Your essay will be judged by the staff of the Urban News, and featured in the February edition, along with your picture. The... + Full Story
Our TownThe People’s Scholar, Dr. Boyce Watkins, to Keynote Prayer BreakfastWednesday, 11 January 2012
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County announced that Dr. Boyce Watkins will give the keynote address at the 31st annual Prayer Breakfast honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The breakfast will be the highlight of a series of events from Wednesday,... + Full Story
Our TownGetting to Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Competence in Multicultural EnvironmentsWednesday, 11 January 2012
by Don C. Locke
Why “getting to?” Every organization is dynamic in terms of diversity and inclusion. Every organization is in the process of becoming diverse and inclusive. If we really believe in the importance of all people and groups, then every organization has room to... + Full Story
CommunitiesMLK Week Events & CelebrationsWednesday, 11 January 2012
31st Annual Prayer Breakfast - 8:30 a.m.
The Prayer Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Grand
Ballroom of the historic Grove Park Inn & Resort at 290 Macon
Avenue. Guest speaker Dr. Boyce Watkins will be joined by the Unity
& Fellowship Choir and other distinguished guests.... + Full Story
