Abner Berry
Abner Berry (June 12, 1902 – June 24, 1987) was an American journalist and Communist Party organizer.
Biography
[edit | edit source]Berry was born in Texas where his three siblings performed as the musical trio The Berry Brothers.[1] After working in a factory, Berry began his career as a journalist in Houston.[2] Berry moved from Kansas City to Harlem in 1935 to work for the League of Struggle for Negro Rights.[3] He replaced Harry Haywood as the leader of the group.[4] In Harlem, Berry worked to organize support for Ethiopia against Italy during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.[5] At the same time, Berry was critical of aspects of Ethiopian society, opposing its use of slavery and feudalism.[6]
Berry was an active member of the Communist Party, working on efforts to encourage social and political interaction between white and Black Party members.[7] He eventually became the Negro Affairs Editor for the Daily Worker.[8]
In September 1957, Berry was photographed in a group with Martin Luther King Jr. at the Highlander School, leading to accusations that King attended a "Communist Training School".[9]
In January 1958, Berry resigned from the Communist Party along with John Gates and Lester Rodney, in response to Khruschev's Secret Speech and its revelations about Stalinism.[10] Berry worked for the United Nations in 1960, organizing the Afro News Service which focused on stories about African politics.[11]
Berry died in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, following a stroke.[12]
References
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