Today we highlight Earl Harvey: More than an Idea: An Initiative

Earl Harvey – I’m going to start this one off up beat. Smiles and highlights. No dragging story should be in connection with this great Black entrepreneur. First let me say welcome to the  Marker’s Sketch Show powered by Maryam’s Mark – a monthly show sharing highlights & news-jack worthy creative content using the art of storytelling – one sketch at a time!

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Let me share how I was initially introduced to Earl Harvey – which happened in multiple ways. First sharing my eternal love for news and media. Growing up I was the kid who asked all the questions, family members would say “what is Maryam doing, writing a book or something – she’s always asking so many questions!” I watched the news a lot and read and read and would write and obviously sketch. In school I’d write creative stories and would win those “creative writing” contests, showing my grandmother mostly because I saw her as someone interested enough – didn’t complain about my inquiries. She’d tell those family members “yes, Maryam is writing a book, go damn it so answer her!” I’d chuckle. While in high school I joined the High school Newspaper committee, wrote articles that soon ended in the local newspapers published by Bartash Printing Incorporations. I couldn’t be more proud of myself. I even won a journalism scholarship but I turned it down.  I decided to take another route, graphic design – learning how to design publications digitally.  It was 1999 – I was in my last year of high school and I already have my own home computer – 1999,  the same year Earl Harvey began publishing “The Black Professional News.” I remember seeing the “BPN” for the first time on one of my teachers’ desks, then again at my dad’s store. I was so excited, reading the stories of entrepreneurs, not just any entrepreneurs but ones like my parents, people of color or as my father would say the “Indigenous.” The Black Professional Newspaper was powerful for “indigenous” business owner. It was the fuel needed to keep engines going, helping with exposure, sharing messaging and business details on paper – specifically for the “indigenous” man and woman! A modern day “Freedom’s Journal!” I thought to myself I only know how to create a newsletter using Microsoft Word, I have to learn how to make an actual big newspaper! I remember wanting to meet Mr. Harvey and just shake his hand hectically like a crazed fan! I recall discussing with our senior editor that our stories could be published in the BPN but it was sought as unlikely due to only covering high school news and sports – nothing business related. SOOO Disappointed!  I didn’t press the issue but I often wish I had, pitching a column for teen sports and student-ran clubs. I obviously didn’t pitch a thing. I continued writing for my high school newspaper while enjoying BPN from afar. 

Honestly Earl Harvey’s Black Professional News always made me think about the “The Muhammad Speaks” newspaper, created by Malcolm X, spread the teachings of the the Nation of Islam. The Muhammad Speaks newspaper covered food, health, education, business and the NOI’s religious messages. One of the key messages of the Nation of Islam was to have “economic self-sufficiency.” Know for self – do for self – self-reliance; Black empowerment. The teachings of Fard and Elijah Muhammad slowly fiddled away in the mid-70s early 80s with Elijah Muhammad’s son became the successor of the Nation of Islam, creating a split in believe, directing members to Sunni Islamic practices and ending many of the NOI’s then programs. 

I offer this part of history because of the similarities, not from a religious standpoint but viewed as movement. If you haven’t yet – view The Black Professional Newspaper, TV and network as a movement! Something large enough to direct and resurrect a people to ensure economic worth. Harvey noticed what was missing, and filled the gap – specifically for African Americans who owned businesses. The brother had a mission and sought out to make it true. Noting himself as having the  “gift of gab” as one of the reasons the media was his selection for success. Harvey told FrontRunnerNewJersy.com in a Q & A during October 2020, weeks before his passing “I saw that businesspeople, particularly businesses of color, were largely ignored.  I know access to information is critical to business owners for success so I created that space by publishing The Black Professionals News, a free community newspaper for professional service providers, nonprofits, and business owners.” 

Can you say “black empowerment?” Cup runneth over, right!
I really believe the Almighty sends us people, leaders, to do His work. Fard and Elijah Muhammad were doing some really needed work during their years with the NOI. And I do believe Earl Harvey used his career as a journalist and media to do His work. I hope I’m not confusing anyone – not to my