Assembly Resolution No. 1506
BY: M. of A. Zinerman
HONORING the life and legacy of Thomas H. Watkins,
Jr., a pioneering journalist, media entrepreneur,
and champion for the economic and civic empowerment
of the African-American community
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body honors those who have dedicated their
lives to uplifting their communities, amplifying the voices of the
underserved, and whose legacies continue to inspire generations long
after their service has ended; and
WHEREAS, Thomas H. Watkins, Jr. was born in 1937 into a family with
a proud tradition of advocacy for African-American rights-his
grandfather argued before Congress for federal protections from
lynching, and his father helped expand the circulation of the AmsterdamNews , New York's oldest and first fully unionized Black newspaper; and
WHEREAS, Thomas H. Watkins, Jr. became a pioneering journalist and
media entrepreneur, founding the New York Daily Challenge, the first
Black daily newspaper in New York City, which at its height reached
thousands of readers, generated nearly $30 million annually, and
employed dozens of African-Americans from its corporate headquarters in
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of his distinguished career, Thomas H.
Watkins, Jr. expanded the reach of Black media by founding and acquiring
publications including the Afro Times, New American, Jersey CityChallenge, Paterson-Passaic Challenge, and Newark Challenge,
consistently advocating for the economic independence of
African-Americans and the enduring power of the Black voice and the
Black dollar; and
WHEREAS, As president of the National Newspaper Publishing
Association from 1989 to 1992, and as a devoted lifelong member
thereafter, Thomas H. Watkins, Jr. used his platform to mentor,
inspire, and uplift Black journalists nationwide, delivering keynote
addresses for organizations such as United Way and at esteemed
institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities
(HBCUs) such as Bethune-Cookman University and Johnson C. Smith
University; and
WHEREAS, A committed community leader, Thomas H. Watkins, Jr. was a
proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, the
Comus Club, and the Reveille Club; throughout his life in Brooklyn, New
York, he remained steadfast in advocating for the financial empowerment
of African-Americans and the advancement of his community; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his extraordinary life and enduring
impact on journalism, the African-American community, and the City and
State of New York, it is fitting and proper that this Legislative Body
pause to honor Thomas H. Watkins, Jr. and his lifelong dedication to
empowering others through media, education, and economic opportunity;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body hereby honors the life, legacy,
and remarkable contributions of Thomas H. Watkins, Jr., who died on
Friday, December 19, 2025, and expresses its profound gratitude for his
tireless commitment to amplifying Black voices, fostering economic
empowerment, and championing civic engagement; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Thomas H. Watkins, Jr.
