Paul Greenberg's title in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newsroom was editorial page editor until he retired from the post in 2015. Readers, however, knew Greenberg less as the journalist who coordinated those pages than as the brilliant writer who, for a quarter century on these pages, explored through the written word every corner and crevice of the shared human experience.
He didn't just put words on a page. He nurtured them to their most potent form, articulating his reasoning by careful selection of the seemingly endless supply of tools a 26-letter alphabet could provide. Whether or not you agreed with him, his prose and perspective called out for your attention.
In 1969, some rather impressive folks in New York took notice of Greenberg's writing about civil rights. He was editorial page editor of the Pine Bluff Commercial in south Arkansas and it was the turbulent 1960s of racial tensions and civil rights advocacy. The Pulitzer Prize Board recognized Greenberg's writing for "clearness of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning and power to influence public opinion in what the writer conceives to be the right direction."
What earned him that prize? Starting with today's replica edition (available to all subscribers through our smart phone and tablet apps), we offer a glimpse back to Greenberg's seven essays that, collectively, earned him that prestigious Pulitzer Prize. We'll publish one article each day through Friday, then conclude with the longest piece spread over three days Saturday through Monday. Readers can also access the materials at nwaonline.com/news/editorial/paulgreenberg/
We felt republishing Greenberg's Pulitzer Prize-winning reflections a worthwhile tribute in the wake of his death last week at the age of 84. He might have selected other writings in the decades since as more deserving of another read -- even great craftsmen often look at earlier works with a critical eye informed by age and experience -- but as a man who loved history, we think he might forgive us for giving readers this glimpse back to an amazing piece of Arkansas journalistic history.
Enjoy.