Beauty B. Turner (October 23, 1957 – December 18, 2008) was an American housing activist and journalist from Chicago, Illinois. At the time of her death, Turner was compared to the civil rights leader Ida B. Wells.[1][2]
Beauty Turner | |
|---|---|
| Born | Beauty B. Turner January 23, 1957 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | December 18, 2008 (aged 51) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for | Activism on behalf of public housing residents in Chicago Ghetto Bus Tours |
Biography edit
Career edit
Turner was well known for her Ghetto (Greatest History Ever Told To Our People) Bus Tours, which "gave a voice to those who had none". Turner was associate editor of Chicago (South) Street Journal and a columnist for the Hyde Park Herald and a number of other local newspapers. Turner was also an activist in the community. For sixteen years, Turner was a resident of the Robert Taylor Homes, one of the US's best known public housing projects.[3] Towards the end of her career, Turner worked as a research assistant for Professor Sudhir Venkatesh, a sociologist at Columbia University. Her writings have appeared on the front page of The Wall Street Journal.[3][4]
Awards and honors edit
Turner won a number of awards through her career as a journalist, which include:
- First New America Award by the National Society of Professional Journalists
- Winner of a Studs Terkel
- Peter Lisagor
- Associated Press award
- Chicago Association for Black Journalist award
- Courageous voice award for her community activism
- Black Pearl award
- Woman of the Century award
- Shero award from the Empowerment Zone Committee[3][4]
Personal life and death edit
Turner had three children (two sons and a daughter); Larry Turner (born 1975), Landon (born 1980) and LaTanya Turner (Taylor) (born in 1977). Turner's grandson is Reezy Turner.[5] Turner died on December 18, 2008, at the age of 51. She developed an aneurysm, fell into a coma, and never recovered. She died at Rush University Medical Center.[5]
References edit
- ^ Olkon, Sara (December 19, 2008). "Beauty Turner, 51: Chicago public housing activist and reporter". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Rhodes, Steve (December 19, 2008). "'Writer, Fighter' Beauty Turner Dies". NBC Chicago.
- ^ a b c "Beauty's Ghetto Bus Tours". Beautys Ghetto Bus Tours. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
- ^ a b "'Writer, Fighter' Beauty Turner Dies". NBC Chicago. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Beauty Turner, 51: Chicago public housing activist and reporter". Chicago Tribune. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
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