On December 20, 1988, Max Robinson, the first African American man to anchor a nightly network newscast, passed away at the age of 49 due to complications from AIDS. ?Encyclopedia 

Career Highlights:

• Breaking Racial Barriers: Robinson began his television career in 1959 at WTOV-TV in Portsmouth, Virginia. Initially, he was required to read the news behind a screen to hide his race. Defying this, he had the screen removed during a broadcast and was subsequently fired the next day. ?AIDS Monument 

• Washington, D.C.: In 1969, Robinson joined WTOP-TV (now WUSA-TV) in Washington, D.C., becoming the first African American anchor on a local television news program. His work there earned him significant recognition. ?The Commonwealth Times

• ABC World News Tonight: In 1978, Robinson co-anchored ABC’s “World News Tonight” alongside Frank Reynolds and Peter Jennings, marking his place as the first African American to anchor a nightly network news broadcast. ?BlackPast.org

Personal Struggles and Legacy: Throughout his career, Robinson faced challenges, including battles with alcoholism and depression. He was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988 but chose to keep his illness private. His family later revealed his diagnosis to raise awareness about the disease within the African American community. ?Los Angeles Times

Robinson’s pioneering efforts paved the way for future generations of African American journalists, leaving a lasting impact on the field of broadcast journalism.