Beauty Turner

Beauty B. Turner (October 23, 1957 – December 18, 2008) was an American housing activist and journalist from Chicago, Illinois. At the time of her death, Turner was compared to the civil rights leader Ida B. Wells.[1][2]

Beauty Turner
Born
Beauty B. Turner

January 23, 1957
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 2008(2008-12-18) (aged 51)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation
Known forActivism of public housing residents in Chicago
Ghetto Bus Tours

Biography

Career

Turner was well known for her Ghetto (Greatest History Ever Told To Our People) Bus Tours, which gave a voice to those who were unable to. Turner was associate editor of Chicago (South) Street Journal and a columnist for the Hyde Park Herald and a number of other local newspapers. Turner was also an activist in the community. For sixteen years, Turner was a resident of the Robert Taylor Homes, one of the US's best known public housing.[3] Towards the end of her career, Turner worked as a research assistant for Professor Sudhir Venkatesh, a sociologist at Columbia University. Her writings have appeared on the front page of The Wall Street Journal.[3][4]

Awards and honors

Turner won a number of awards through her career as a journalist, which include:

  • First New America Award by the National Society of Professional Journalists
  • Winner of a Studs Terkel
  • Peter Lisagor
  • Associated Press award
  • Chicago Association for Black Journalist award
  • Courageous voice award for her community activism
  • Black Pearl award
  • Woman of the Century award
  • Shero award from the Empowerment Zone Committee[3][4]

Personal and death

Turner had three children, two sons and a daughter; Larry Turner born 1975, Landon born 1980 and LaTanya Turner (Taylor) born in 1977. Turner's grandson is Reezy Turner.[5] Turner died on December 18, 2008, at the age of 51. She suffered from an aneurysm and fell into a coma and never recovered. She died at Rush University Medical Center.[5]

References
  1. Olkon, Sara (December 19, 2008). "Beauty Turner, 51: Chicago public housing activist and reporter". Chicago Tribune.
  2. Rhodes, Steve (December 19, 2008). "'Writer, Fighter' Beauty Turner Dies". NBC Chicago.
  3. "Beauty's Ghetto Bus Tours". Beautys Ghetto Bus Tours. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  4. "'Writer, Fighter' Beauty Turner Dies". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  5. "Beauty Turner, 51: Chicago public housing activist and reporter". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 10 April 2013.


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