Context:

Kenneth Walker, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, was pivotal in exposing the brutality of South Africa's apartheid system through his work on ABC's 'Nightline', which won numerous accolades. His journalism career spanned four decades, during which he also highlighted racial injustices in the U.S., advocating for reparations and criticizing negative media portrayals of Black individuals. Walker was instrumental in persuading ABC to focus on the apartheid issue, significantly influencing public perception and policy in both the U.S. and South Africa. He was the first journalist to receive top honors from the National Association of Black Journalists in print, television, and radio, and continued to work in South Africa after leaving NPR. Despite health challenges later in life, Walker remained committed to addressing racial issues until his passing at the age of 73 due to a heart attack.

Dive Deeper:

• Kenneth Walker gained recognition for his Emmy-winning reporting on 'Nightline', which brought international attention to the apartheid system in South Africa, influencing U.S. policymakers and earning numerous awards, including the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Gold Baton.

• Walker's journalism career included significant roles at The Washington Star, ABC's 'Nightline', and NPR, where he served as Africa bureau chief. His work consistently focused on racial issues, both in South Africa and the United States.

• He played a key role in advocating for Nelson Mandela's story to be covered by 'Nightline', convincing ABC to invest in extensive coverage of South Africa, which altered public opinion and policy towards apartheid.

• Walker was the first journalist to receive the National Association of Black Journalists' highest honors in print, television, and radio, and was later recognized with the Frederick Douglass Lifetime Achievement Award.

• Beyond his journalism, Walker was vocal about racism in America, advocating for reparations and criticizing the media for its portrayal of Black individuals and its lack of Black journalists, which he argued hindered accurate public information.

• After his journalism career, Walker remained active in humanitarian efforts in South Africa as CARE's communications director, and later returned to Washington in 2015 for a kidney transplant.

• Despite facing health challenges, Walker remained a passionate advocate for racial justice, recognizing the ongoing struggles of the civil rights movement and the growing threat of white supremacist terrorism.