Barry Murray and I had a working relationship, so reading Anita Hackley Lambert’s personal account of his life was good. This book helped fill in the blanks on how he worked and why he may have held the political, social, and economic positions he was passionate about.

Times have changed since Murray’s passing at age 49 in 2002. Many print publications like Murray’s weekly newspaper “News Dimensions” have given way to electronic media. As a history lover, I am pleased that his cousin Hackley Lambert took the time to document his contributions to this world and the Black press.

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I wrote for Barry for many years, but I cannot recall him talking or writing about this or any other ancestor. After reading this intriguing book, I now understand why. Surprisingly, the book had a missing, riveting piece of the puzzle.

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This is her second book on the history of one of her family members, with the first book being “Freeman Henry Morris Murray: First Biography of a Forgotten Pioneer for Civil Justice.” The founding member of the Niagara Movement, founded by W. E. B. Du Bois in 1906, and journalist was Barry's great-grandfather.

I wrote for Barry for many years, but I cannot recall him talking or writing about this or any other ancestor. After reading this intriguing book, I now understand why. Surprisingly, the book had a missing, riveting piece of the puzzle.

Barry, founder and publisher of “News Dimensions,” was pro-Black and uncompromising. He set the tone for his company. Under his tutelage, my most memorable series centered on CVS Pharmacy’s relationship with the Black community. The investigations began when Chris Hollis, the paper’s advertisement salesperson, felt that CVS’s ad department was not supporting our voices through the Black press.

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Nevertheless, Barry continued to print the stories. That was Barry, pro-Black and uncompromising.

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We easily found and printed many stories that CVS did not find flattering. We knew that readers loved the stories. Many gave us a silent pat on the back.

However, we knew many consumers continued to march by the dwindling number of Black-owned and non-Black-owned independent pharmacies that we thought maintained a much more respectable relationship with our community. We also knew the CVS would not advertise in “News Dimensions,” but more often in competing Black papers that stayed out of the fray.

Nevertheless, Barry continued to print the stories. That was Barry, pro-Black and uncompromising.

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ECHOES OF A VOICE FOR JUSTICE: The Story of Barry A. Murray by Anita Hackley Lambert. $19.95 paperback; $24.95 hardback.

Forward by Omar Tyree (author “Fly Girl,” “For the Love of Money,” and “Mayor for Life: The Incredible Story of Marion Barry, Jr.,” which he coauthored with Barry.)