Lu Palmer

Lutrelle Fleming "Lu" Palmer, Jr. (March 28, 1922 – September 12, 2004) was an American reporter, political activist, radio show host, and newspaper publisher in Chicago.

Biography Palmer was born in Newport News, Virginia to Lutrelle Fleming Palmer, a school principal, and his wife, Myrtle. He had two sisters, who had careers in education. He became a journalist after earning a degree from Virginia University in 1942, a masters from Syracuse University in 1948, and his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1950. He served the next fifty years as a reporter, newspaper publisher and radio commentator for the black community. Palmer was a reporter for the Chicago Defender, as well as a writer for newspapers including the Chicago Daily News, and the Tri-State Defender as a columnist. He founded his own newspaper, Black X-Press Info.

Often outspoken, he lost the sponsorship of his 13-year radio program. He was a supporter of Harold Washington, who with Palmer's help became the first African American mayor of Chicago. In 1983, Palmer ran in the Democratic primary for the special election for Washington's seat in Congress, but lost to Charles Hayes, whom Washington had endorsed.

Palmer was associated recruiter and organizer and preceptor of Associated Colleges of the Midwest from 1970 until 1990.