[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 157 (Monday, September 24, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REMEMBERING KEN SMIKLE

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, last week, Chicago lost a giant in media 
when Ken Smikle passed away at the too young age of 66. For over 40 
years, Ken redefined coverage of the Black American experience and 
brought to light the economic potential of Black communities in the 
United States.
  It is hard to believe that an audience with $1.2 trillion in buying 
power in 2017 did not have a publication geared toward understanding 
the African-American market 30 years ago, but that was the reality 
before Ken founded Target Media News in 1987. Ken saw the potential 
there throughout his career.
  Hailing from Harlem, NY,--in 1974, Ken, his brother, Dawoud Bey, and 
friend, Gerald Gladney started a business that published two magazines. 
They did this with no financial backing besides savings from various 
jobs.
  Ken wrote for several publications, including Essence Magazine and 
the National Leader Magazine. He went on to serve as the arts editor 
for Harlem's Amsterdam News, the Black music editor at Record World 
Magazine, and the editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
  In 1983, Ken's life had a revolution. He became the senior editor at 
Black Enterprise magazine. Ken also met the love of his life, Renee 
Ferguson, who was among the first female African-American women to work 
at CBS Network News in New York. Both of them were dedicated to telling 
the untold story of African Americans. It was at Black Enterprise that 
Ken got the idea that no one was tracking what businesses were doing to 
market to Black consumers.
  In 1987, Ken and Renee moved to Chicago. Ken founded Target Market 
News, while Renee worked as an investigative reporter for NBC5 News. 
Target Market News became the leading publication showing the research 
into marketing to African Americans. His work was pivotal in changing 
the way corporations viewed African Americans as an economic force. He 
published an annual ``Black Buying Power'' report for many years. For 
many years, Ken was the only one doing it, until Forbes and the 
University of Georgia Selig Center joined the bandwagon.
  Ken was the expert quoted on marketing to African Americans in 
numerous publications. He cofounded the African American Marketing and 
Media Association, hosted annual conferences, and was a proud member of 
the National Association of Black Journalists.
  In Chicago's Hyde Park's Kenwood community, Ken and Renee were 
staples for 30 years. They were neighbors to a young couple named 
Barack and Michelle Obama. Before Barack Obama was President Obama, he 
was Ken's friend at the Hyde Park co-op.
  While trailblazing the marketing industry, Ken was a Little League 
basketball coach at the YMCA. He was a loving father to his son, Jason, 
going to his son's baseball, basketball, and swimming competition.
  Ken loved his jazz and the music of life. His leadership and vision 
will be missed.
  Ken leaves behind his wife, Renee, son, Jason, brother, Dawoud Bey, 
and sisters, Sandra Bernard and Georgianna Machicote.
  (At the request of Mr. Cornyn, the following statement was ordered to 
be printed in the Record.)

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