Leanita McClain (1951–1984) was an American journalist and commentator, best known for her observations of race and politics in Chicago and the U.S. in the early 1980s. Her writings in the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television a ...

'' and in opinion pieces published in ''

Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print magazine in 1933, it was widely ...

'' gave broad exposure to her thoughts on race and class in the United States. Her work addressed both local topics, such as the election of Harold Washington as mayor in 1983, as well as topics of more national interest, including the challenges facing the growing black middle class.

Life and career

McClain was born in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

in 1951, and grew up in the Ida B. Wells housing projects. She graduated from

Chicago State University Chicago State University (CSU) is a predominantly black public university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1867 as the Cook County Normal School, it was an innovative teachers college. Eventually the Chicago Public Schools assumed control of t ...

and the

Medill School of Journalism The Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications is a constituent school of Northwestern University that offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. It frequently ranks as the top school of journalism in the Unite ...

. Upon graduating, McClain joined the staff of the ''Chicago Tribune'' in 1973 and the editorial board in 1983. In fact, McClain was the first African American to serve on the Chicago Tribune's editorial board, and the youngest, at age 32. In 1984, Glamour magazine named McClain one of the top 10 career women in the USA. She was married briefly to fellow journalist

Clarence Page Clarence Page (born June 2, 1947) is an American journalist, syndicated columnist, and senior member of the '' Chicago Tribune'' editorial board. Early years Page was born in Dayton, Ohio, and attended Middletown High School in Middletown whe ...

. A posthumous collection of her essays, edited by Clarence Page, was published in 1986. One reviewer wrote: McClain suffered from depression through much of her life, and died by suicide in Chicago in 1984.

References

1984 deaths 1951 births Writers from Chicago Chicago State University alumni Medill School of Journalism alumni 20th-century American writers 20th-century American journalists 1984 suicides {{US-journalist-1950s-stub