Malvin R. Goode—A Man Who Swam the Rugged Waves of Mainstream

During the 1960’s, a thought that possibly have crossed many minds while watching the evening news, simply was whether America would ever witness an African-American face being broadcasted on their television sets or hear a voice belonging to black American on the radio? This was a baffling question that left many individuals pondering while watching and listening to the whites take over America’s mainstream.

With the help of the civil rights movement and subsequent anti-discrimination laws, black Americans were allowed to finally expand their career paths. With the struggle for equal opportunity, many black Americans with middle-class goals no longer settled with the typical teaching and preaching jobs that were only available to them. As a result, thousands of blacks went to college, studied to become lawyers, doctors, accountants, engineers, nurses, and business entrepreneurs—all trying to make a better life for themselves. Many blacks then realized that they had to increase their effectiveness to become successful. These hardworking Americans are what helped create history making America a brighter and enhanced society for future generations to come.

Despite the enthusiasm they attained to become prosperous African-Americans in a racial world, there were many obstacles that stopped them from pursuing this dream. During those days, jobs were scarce and promotion was certainly unthinkable for a man whose skin was black. It was a dilemma that was not uncommon during that period. There were only a handful of black journalists in the business. Fewer than five percent of blacks were employed by the news business. Less than one percent of the editors and supervisors were blacks, and most of them worked for black-owned publications—proving how ludicrous the numbers were. Barely any black correspondents were ever placed onto television; it surely was a grueling time for African-Americans.

Nevertheless, in 1962, Malvin R. Goode came and broke the color barrier in network television news by becoming the first African-American television news correspondent. The product he produced and disseminated was: information. He was a person with the skills to influence, enlighten, and move the public to action as a black man. Simply put, Goode was the representation of the entire black race—as he sat at his anchorman man desk and delivered the news he not only helped inspire many African-Americans but he tore down television’s racial barricade.

Goode a grandson of slaves was born in White Plains, Virginia; he was educated in the public school system of Homestead, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1931. He was employed for twelve years as a laborer in the steel mills while in high school and college and for five years after his graduation. He was appointed to a position in the Juvenile Court as a boys work director at the Centre Avenue YMCA, he forefront the fight against discrimination in the Pittsburgh branches of the YMCA. Goode worked with the Pittsburgh Housing Authority for six years and in 1948, joined the Pittsburgh Courier (where he remained for 14 years). A year later he began a career in radio broadcasting with KQV, doing a 15-minute news show two nights a week. Soon, he had a five-minute daily news show on WHOD radio where in 1952 he was named the station’s news director.

Goode began his television career when most journalists were winding theirs down. At the age of 54, ABC (American Broadcasting Company) chose him from 37 candidates to become their news correspondent. He was then hired on the recommendation of his friend, the baseball player Jackie Robinson, the first black player in the major leagues, who complained to ABC executives about the lack of black reporters. Mr. Goode was almost immediately assigned to ABC’s bureau at the United Nations.

ABC’s medical correspondent, George Strait, said “Mr. Goode refused to be pigeon-holed. He wouldn’t let them assign him only to so-called black stories.” “He opened the way for the next generation,” added Mr. Strait, who is black. “And that's why I’m on the medical beat.”

Goode’s big break came on a Sunday when he walked into an international crisis: the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba, 90 miles from U.S. shores and a doomsday standoff between President John F. Kenney and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Mal worked for ABC for 11 years as a correspondent and covered United Nations meetings, the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the 1964 and 1968 Republican and Democratic national conventions, as well as many of the major events of the civil rights struggle; he distinguished himself with perceptive TV and radio reports during the long hours of debate at the UN. He delivered round-the-clock reports, eight on television and seven on radio.

For two months in 1963 he joined three of his peers to conduct courses in journalism for over 100 African students at seminars in Lagos, Nigeria; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He also became the first Black member of the National Association of Radio and Television News Directors in 1971. In March 1990, NABJ Journal announced that the association established a Hall of Fame and would induct seven black journalists, Goode was one of the seven to enter the Hall.

Malvin R. Goode died of a stroke on September 12th 1995, in Pittsburgh, at the age of eighty-seven. CNN Washington Anchor Bernie Shaw, who was mentored by Goode, paid a tribute to him in a special TV broadcast that included this highlight: “Goode certified himself as a man of the universe when he answered the question: How do you want to be remembered? Goode responded: “I’d like to be remembered as somebody who tried to do something to make life better for someone, not better for Black people, not better for Afro Americans, not better for White people, but better for humanity.”

Up until 1962, television news was strictly a caucasian's territory. His example-setting act was a strong step in the struggle for equal rights and opened the doors for many future black reporters on television. Many followed his footsteps and found courage and bravery to chase their dreams. More significantly, he served as inspiration for the civil rights movement in the 60’s. He was truly a prominent pioneer of black journalists, who successfully crusaded for diversity in the media.