Friday, August 31, 2012
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Atlanta
City Council member C.T. Martin, The Atlanta inquirer publisher John B. Smith
Sr. and former Atlanta Daily World Publisher Cornelius Adolphus (C.A.) Scott
Honored by the Atlanta Business League
The Atlanta Business
League (ABL) has recognized business owners, professionals, and community and
civic leaders in Metropolitan Atlanta for many years. Its annual Men of
Influence Reception & Induction Ceremony provides an opportunity to
celebrate the accomplishments of Atlanta’s outstanding African-American men.
The list includes the names of black men in metro Atlanta communities who have
achieved professional accomplishments as well as demonstrated their commitment
to the citizens of Metro Atlanta through their continuous efforts and
involvement in community and civic activities.
The late C.A. Scott
received the organization’s distinguished 2012 Legacy Award posthumously.
Today the Atlanta World is the oldest existing daily African-American newspaper
in the United States with an online daily edition and a weekly printed edition.
During his tenure as publisher Mr. Scott helped shape the opinions of
generations of readers. Scott took control of the paper after his brother's
death in 1934, and remained at the helm until his retirement in 1997, at the age
of 89.
In
the early years of Mr. Scott's editorship, the paper developed a reputation as a
staunch advocate of equal rights for African Americans. The paper included
coverage of lynchings and other violence against blacks, which went unreported
in the white-owned papers. In editorials, Scott railed against widespread forms
of racial discrimination and advocated black economic self-sufficiency, urging
his readers to patronize black-owned businesses. According to his obituary in
the New York Times, Scott also wanted his paper "to give
constructive and inspiring news" to its African-American readers; stories
about local churches, schools, sporting events, and social events figured
prominently in the World's pages.
Both
City Council Member C.T. Martin and Atlanta Inquirer Publisher John B. Smith Sr.
were inducted into the ABL’s Legends Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
For over 30 years, Council
Member Martin has provided professional services in a number of areas including
education, social services, enfranchisement and voting rights, government
(local, state, and federal), and private business enterprise. Serving his 5th
term representing the residents of District 10, Council Member Martin has held
three key chairmanships including the Human Resources, Public Safety and
Transportation committees. For more than 20 years, he has served the National
Scholarship Service for Negro Students, (NSSFNS) influencing college minority
recruitment policy nationwide. Council Member Martin has also received more than
200 community service awards and is a member of the Southwest Hospital Medical
Center Foundation, the Fulton County Board of Directors, the Atlanta City
Employees Credit Union Board of Directors, the West End Medical Center Board of
Directors and Another Way Out, Inc.
Mr. Smith continues to
serve as the distinguished publisher and chief executive officer of the Atlanta
Inquirer. Smith's desire for perfection and his exemplary knowledge of
salesmanship have made him effective in the field of marketing, in particular,
and communications, in general. He has represented The Atlanta Inquirer not only
within the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, but also through Atlanta's
Community Relations Commission, along with other enterprising business
activities. Additionally, since his initial activism while The Atlanta
Inquirer's advertising manager, Mr. Smith has ascended to chairman of the board
of the National Newspaper Publisher's Association (NNPA), "the Black Press
of America," 2005-2009 commanding responsibilities of the newspaper
federation which is comprised of 200-plus African-American newspapers
nationwide.
About the ABL
Based in Atlanta, The
Atlanta Business League fosters the growth, creation and development of
successful business enterprises owned, operated and managed by
African-Americans in metropolitan Atlanta.