Xernona Clayton Brady (née Brewster, born August 30, 1930) is an
American civil rights leader and broadcasting executive. During the
Civil Rights Movement, she worked for the National Urban League and
Southern Christian Leadership Conference, where she became involved in
the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Later, Clayton went into
television, where she became the first African American from the
southern United States to host a daily prime time talk show. She
became corporate vice president for urban affairs for Turner
Broadcasting.Clayton created the Trumpet Foundation. She was
instrumental in the development of the International Civil Rights Walk
of Fame that was developed by the foundation to honor the achievements
of African Americans and civil rights advocates. She convinced a Grand
Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan to denounce the Klan. Clayton has been
honored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People and the city of Atlanta for her work.Xernona and her twin
sister Xenobia were born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the daughters of
Reverend James and Elliott (Lillie) Brewster. Her parents were
administrators of Indian affairs in Muskogee, Oklahoma. In 1952,
Clayton earned her undergraduate degree with honors from Tennessee
State Agricultural and Industrial College in Nashville, Tennessee. She
majored in music and minored in education. At TSU, Clayton became a
member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She is a Baptist. She
pursued graduate studies at the University of Chicago.Clayton began
her career in the Civil Rights Movement with the National Urban League
in Chicago, working undercover to investigate racial discrimination
committed by employers against African Americans. Clayton moved to
Atlanta in 1965, where she organized events for the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference (SCLC), under the direction of Martin Luther
King Jr. She developed a deep friendship with Dr. King's wife, Coretta
Scott King. Clayton and Scott King traveled together on concert tours.
Although Clayton did not march with King, citing a fear of being
arrested, Clayton helped plan King's marches.
American civil rights leader and broadcasting executive. During the
Civil Rights Movement, she worked for the National Urban League and
Southern Christian Leadership Conference, where she became involved in
the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Later, Clayton went into
television, where she became the first African American from the
southern United States to host a daily prime time talk show. She
became corporate vice president for urban affairs for Turner
Broadcasting.Clayton created the Trumpet Foundation. She was
instrumental in the development of the International Civil Rights Walk
of Fame that was developed by the foundation to honor the achievements
of African Americans and civil rights advocates. She convinced a Grand
Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan to denounce the Klan. Clayton has been
honored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People and the city of Atlanta for her work.Xernona and her twin
sister Xenobia were born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the daughters of
Reverend James and Elliott (Lillie) Brewster. Her parents were
administrators of Indian affairs in Muskogee, Oklahoma. In 1952,
Clayton earned her undergraduate degree with honors from Tennessee
State Agricultural and Industrial College in Nashville, Tennessee. She
majored in music and minored in education. At TSU, Clayton became a
member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She is a Baptist. She
pursued graduate studies at the University of Chicago.Clayton began
her career in the Civil Rights Movement with the National Urban League
in Chicago, working undercover to investigate racial discrimination
committed by employers against African Americans. Clayton moved to
Atlanta in 1965, where she organized events for the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference (SCLC), under the direction of Martin Luther
King Jr. She developed a deep friendship with Dr. King's wife, Coretta
Scott King. Clayton and Scott King traveled together on concert tours.
Although Clayton did not march with King, citing a fear of being
arrested, Clayton helped plan King's marches.
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