CHICAGO — The People’s Weekly World editorial board announced this week that Martin Frazier has joined the staff as a writer and editor, with a particular focus on African American/Caribbean/African affairs, as well as culture and music. He brings to the paper a rich background in these areas, coupled with hands-on experience as a political and cultural activist.
“It’s a great opportunity to be writing for a paper with such a long and great tradition,” Frazier said. “To have the honor of contributing is humbling. I hope I can further reflect the multiracial and multicultural realities in the U.S.”
Frazier was born and raised in the eastern Caribbean, and came to the U.S. in the early 1980s. Back home, the PWW’s predecessor, the People’s Daily World, was already a familiar sight for him — he recalled it was widely seen in union and political offices, along with pamphlets and articles by U.S. Communists like Gus Hall and Angela Davis. In the U.S., Frazier became active in protests against racist attacks on Black youth in New York City and he participated in youth coalitions against racism. “We helped give direction and sanity in a very emotionally charged situation,” he said. Throughout the ’80s and early ’90s Frazier was active in student strikes over budget cuts, and other youth empowerment struggles.
Combining art and politics, he painted murals, banners, billboards and backdrops for rallies. “I’m especially proud to have helped paint the backdrop for Nelson Mandela at Yankee Stadium when he made his U.S. tour after his hard-won release from the South African apartheid prison,” he said.
Frazier has worked in the hip hop music industry, and continues to work with a number of artists. He is married and the father of two children, and holds degrees in psychologyand fine arts.
PWW Editor Terrie Albano said, “Martin brings a tremendous amount of political insight, experience and skills to this important area of coverage. The PWW editorial board and staff, but more importantly our readers, truly welcome his addition.”
Frazier is pursuing a career in public education. He will be with the PWW full-time for the next several months, and then plans to continue as a contributing editor.
Suewebb @ pww.org
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