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Chauncey Bailey

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Chauncey Bailey
An undated family photo of Bailey
Born
Chauncey Wendell Bailey Jr.

(1949-10-20)October 20, 1949
Oakland, California,U.S.
DiedAugust 2, 2007(2007-08-02)(aged 57)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Cause of deathMurder by shooting
EducationMerritt College
San Jose State University
OccupationJournalist
Notable credit(s)The Detroit News
Oakland Tribune
SpouseRobin Hardin (div.)
Children1

Chauncey Wendell Bailey Jr.(October 20, 1949 – August 2, 2007) was an American journalist noted for his work primarily on issues of theAfrican-Americancommunity. He served as editor-in-chief of theOakland PostinOakland, California,from June 2007 until his murder.[1]His 37-year career in journalism included lengthy periods as a reporter atThe Detroit Newsand theOakland Tribune.[1]

He was shot dead on aDowntown Oaklandstreet on August 2, 2007, the victim of a crime syndicate he was investigating for a story.[2]His death outraged fellow journalists, who joined to create the Chauncey Bailey Project dedicated to continuing his work and uncovering the facts of his murder. In June 2011 Yusuf Bey IV, owner of theYour Black Muslim Bakery,and his associate Antoine Mackey were convicted of orderingBailey's murder.A third man, bakery handyman Devaughndre Brousard, had earlier confessed to being the triggerman. Bailey was the first American journalist killed for domestic reporting since 1976.[3]

Biography

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Early years

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Chauncey Wendell Bailey Jr. was born inOakland, California,[1]into a Catholic family who were members of St. Benedict's Catholic Church on 82nd Avenue. He lived in East Oakland neighborhoods for many years and attendedHayward High Schoolin the nearby city ofHayward.[4]Bailey earned an associate degree from Oakland's oldMerritt Community Collegein 1968, and a Bachelors in Journalism fromSan Jose State Universityin 1972.[5]

Career

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Bailey first wrote for theOakland Postin 1970, and made his foray intotelevision newsthat year as an on-air reporter with stationKNTVinSan Jose, California,where he continued through 1971. During the next three years he worked at the San FranciscoSun Reporter.[6]

In the mid-1970s, Bailey moved toHartford, Connecticut,to work on theHartford Courantfor three years. After working for a year on the rewrite desk atUnited Press InternationalinChicago,he returned to Oakland in 1978 and wrote for theCalifornia Voicethrough late 1980.[6][7]Bailey again moved to Chicago, where he worked as a publicist for the nonprofit Comprand Inc., and then relocated toWashington, D.C.in 1981 to work for a year aspress secretaryfor the freshmanU.S. RepresentativeGus Savage,D-Ill.[6] From 1982 Bailey spent the next decade as areporterandcolumnistfor theDetroit News,where he covered city government and worked on special projects.[6]In 1992 he returned to Oakland as public affairs director and newscaster on Bay Area radio with stationKDIA,which was co-owned by thenmayor of Oakland,Elihu Harrisand thenCalifornia AssemblySpeakerWillie Brown.During this era Bailey was seen throughout the 1990s as an interviewer and commentator onSoul Beat Televisionon the Oakland cable stationKSBT,where he worked along with former Oakland actressLuenell.[6]Bailey worked at theOakland Tribunefrom 1993 until 2005.[6]In the mid-1990s Bailey split from his wife.[7]

In 2003 Bailey quit his program on Soul Beat after he failed in his attempt to buy the station. His program was canceled in 2004.[7]In 2005 he began writing freelance travel stories for theOakland Post.He became editor in June 2007, and then editor-in-chief of all five Post weeklies.[4]The Postis the largest African-American weekly newspaper in northern California, published inOakland, California,by the Post News Group, and serving mainly Oakland,Berkeley,Richmondand San Francisco.[8]In late 2004 Bailey became one of the producers, co-founders and hosts forOUR-TV (Opportunities in Urban Renaissance Television)onComcastChannel 78.[7]Bailey had been known for his aggressive questioning of city officials.[2]Oakland Police spokesman Ronald Holmgren said: "I know him as being a somewhat outspoken type individual, assertive in his journalistic approach when trying to get at matters at hand."[9]

Death

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Main article:Murder of Chauncey Bailey

Bailey had written several articles about the problems ofYour Black Muslim Bakery.Saleem Bey, half-brother of Antar and Yusuf IV, had anonymously told Bailey that he believed both Antar and Bey IV had looted the business.[10]By this time, the business was inChapter 11bankruptcyand was over one million dollars in debt.[11]

Bailey was shot and killed while working on a story about the finances of Your Black Muslim Bakery, involving its pending bankruptcy.[12][13]

The article was never published.[10]As Bailey walked to work on the morning of August 2, 2007, a van pulled up and a man jumped out and shot the reporter. According to a witness the man had a "long gun" and ran "full tilt" across the street.[14]Oakland Fire Capt. Melinda Drayton said Bailey had been shot first in the back and then once in the head.[15]

The killer was later identified as Devaughndre Broussard. He confessed to the murder,[16]but after almost two years of incarceration, he agreed to testify against Bey IV in exchange for a 25-year sentence. He told authorities that Bey IV had a hit list of people "he wanted to get rid of" who had "done stuff to" the bakery and that Chauncey Bailey's name was on the list.[17]

Broussard was booked on suspicion of murder on August 4, 2007, for the killing of Bailey, having told police detectives that he considered himself "a good soldier". Though other charges were made against those arrested, none of them were charged with Bailey's murder.[18]On August 7, 2007, Broussard was arraigned in Alameda County Superior Court, on charges of murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.[19]

Broussard testified for the prosecution at the trial of Bey IV and Antoine Mackey in 2011. He stated in court he was ordered by Bey to find, track and kill Bailey before the journalist could print his latest article on the bakery.[20]Bey IV and Mackey were both convicted of multiple counts of murder[21]and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.[22]

Recognition

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Intersection of Alice St and 14th St, including Chauncey Bailey Way marker

In March 2020, theOakland City Councilvoted to publicly memorialize Bailey by renaming a portion of 14th Street between Broadway and Oak Street to "Chauncey Bailey Way", a street where he frequently walked to work before he died there.[23]This street name was presented in a ceremony in March 2022.[24]

The Chauncey Bailey Project

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To continue Bailey's work and answer questions regarding his death, more than two dozen reporters, photographers and editors from print, broadcast and electronic media, as well as journalism students, formed a group called the Chauncey Bailey Project. It was convened by New America Media, thePacific News Serviceand theRobert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education.

In June 2008, the Chauncey Bailey Project released a secretly recorded police video that reveals how Black Muslim Bakery leader Yusuf Bey IV kept the gun used in the Chauncey Bailey killing in his closet after the attack and bragged of playing dumb when investigators asked him about the shooting.[25]Bey goes on to describe Bailey's shooting in detail, then laughingly denies he was there, and boasts that his friendship with the case's lead detective protected him from charges. Bey also claims he knew he was being recorded.

Bay Area activist, investigative journalist, and radio talk show host J.R. Valrey (who works under the pseudonym "Minister of Information JR" ), has accused the Chauncey Bailey Project of inaccurate and "self-congratulatory" reporting.[26]Valrey's criticisms largely stem from a 2008 Chauncey Bailey Project article published in theOakland Tribuneentitled "Evidence Ignored", of which Valrey's connections to Chauncey Bailey and Your Black Muslim Bakery was one of the focuses.[27]

In 2010, Thomas Peele, Josh Richman, Mary Fricker and Bob Butler received the McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage from theGrady College of Journalism and Mass Communicationfor their work on the project.[28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abc"Chauncey Bailey remembered: The journalist's impact, and his brutal killing".Los Angeles Times.March 22, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 14,2024.
  2. ^abChristopher Heredia; Leslie Fulbright & Marisa Lagos (August 2, 2007)."Hit man kills newspaper editor on Oakland street".San Francisco Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on August 5, 2011.RetrievedAugust 2,2007.
  3. ^Romney, Lee (June 10, 2011)."Two convicted of murder in shooting of Oakland journalist".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on September 28, 2018.RetrievedAugust 4,2013.
  4. ^abHarry Harris & Angela Hill (August 3, 2007)."Prominent journalist shot dead in street".Oakland Tribune.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2016.RetrievedAugust 4,2007.
  5. ^DeBolt, David (March 7, 2022)."Chauncey Bailey Way unveiled on block where Oakland journalist was assassinated".The Oaklandside.Archivedfrom the original on March 7, 2022.RetrievedMarch 8,2022.
  6. ^abcdefJosh Richman & Douglas Fischer (August 3, 2007)."Bailey's career in news spanned globe for decades".Oakland Tribune.Archivedfrom the original on February 28, 2008.RetrievedAugust 4,2007.
  7. ^abcdKristin Bender (August 7, 2007)."Oakland newsman Bailey to be laid to rest Wednesday".Oakland Tribune.Archivedfrom the original on September 26, 2007.RetrievedAugust 8,2007.
  8. ^C. Dianne Howell."Chauncey Bailey".Oakland Post.Archived fromthe originalon January 4, 2004.RetrievedOctober 26,2008.
  9. ^"Veteran Reporter Gunned Down In Oakland".KTVU News.August 2, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon February 5, 2008.RetrievedAugust 2,2007.
  10. ^abErin McCormick & Jaxon Van Derbeken (October 8, 2007)."A Father's Fiefdom Reduced To Ruin".San Francisco Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on August 17, 2016.RetrievedMarch 31,2017.
  11. ^Thomas Peele (April 12, 2011)."Your Black Muslim Bakery leader had Chauncey Bailey killed, bakery follower testifies".Oakland Tribune.Archivedfrom the original on March 5, 2016.RetrievedMarch 31,2017.
  12. ^"Police Link Bailey Homicide To Black Muslim Group".KTVU News.August 3, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon August 17, 2007.
  13. ^Harry Harris; Kristin Bender & Kelly Rayburn (August 4, 2007)."Cops: Editor's killer confesses".Oakland Tribune.Archivedfrom the original on March 22, 2012.RetrievedAugust 4,2007.
  14. ^Thomas Peele (March 23, 2011)."Witnesses take the stand in Chauncey Bailey murder trial".San Francisco Bay Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on April 14, 2011.RetrievedMarch 31,2017.
  15. ^Christopher Heredia, Leslie Fulbright & Marisa Lagos (August 2, 2007)."Hit man kills newspaper editor on Oakland street".San Francisco Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on August 5, 2011.RetrievedMarch 31,2017.
  16. ^Demian Bulwa & Matthai Chakko Kuruvila (August 6, 2007)."Bakery raid to elicit string of charges".San Francisco Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2007.RetrievedMarch 31,2017.
  17. ^Thomas Peele; Bob Butler & Mary Fricker (April 17, 2009)."Suspect says Chauncey Bailey marked for death".Oakland Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon April 5, 2016.RetrievedMarch 31,2017.
  18. ^Angela Hill & Harry Harris (August 5, 2007)."Confessed killer: I'm 'a good soldier'".Oakland Tribune.Archivedfrom the original on September 29, 2007.RetrievedAugust 6,2007.
  19. ^Harry Harris; Paul T. Rosynsky (August 8, 2007)."Bakery leader, cohorts charged".Oakland Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon September 29, 2007.RetrievedSeptember 11,2008.
  20. ^Lee, Henry K. (March 28, 2011)."Chauncey Bailey shooter laughed at killings".San Francisco Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on April 1, 2011.RetrievedMarch 28,2011.
  21. ^Lee, Henry K. (June 9, 2011)."Your Black Muslim Bakery leader guilty of murder".San Francisco Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on June 10, 2011.RetrievedJune 10,2011.
  22. ^Anthony, Laura (August 26, 2011)."Two men sentenced to life in prison in Chauncey Bailey murder case".KGO-TV.Archivedfrom the original on July 30, 2013.RetrievedAugust 4,2013.
  23. ^McBride, Ashley (July 28, 2020)."Two Oakland streets to be renamed for a Black Panther and a journalist".The Oaklandside.Archivedfrom the original on March 5, 2022.RetrievedMarch 5,2022.
  24. ^"Oakland To Rename Portion Of 14th Street After Slain Journalist Chauncey Bailey".CBS San Francisco Bay Area.March 4, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on March 5, 2022.RetrievedMarch 5,2022.
  25. ^Thomas Peele; Bob Butler; Mary Fricker; Josh Richman (June 18, 2008)."Secret video raises questions about bakery leader's role in Bailey killing".Chauncey Bailey Project.Archivedfrom the original on September 17, 2008.RetrievedSeptember 11,2008.
  26. ^Minister of Information JR (2008)."A Journalistic Critique of the Chauncey Bailey Project".BayView.Archivedfrom the original on August 2, 2009.RetrievedNovember 22,2008.
  27. ^Minister of Information JR (November 4, 2008)."A journalistic critique of the Chauncey Bailey Project".San Francisco Bay View.Archivedfrom the original on September 9, 2014.RetrievedJune 1,2021.
  28. ^"UGA awards McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage to Chauncey Bailey Project reporters - UGA Today".UGA Today.February 23, 2010.Archivedfrom the original on April 3, 2018.RetrievedApril 3,2018.
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