INGLEWOOD – Longtime Inglewood Today newspaper publisher Willie Brown has died according to published reports.
A local blog reported that Brown passed away on June 25 at Cedar Sinai Hospital after an emergency visit.
Brown was known for wanting to spotlight the “positive side” of Inglewood and started his newspaper after a successful career as an advertising executive. The Inglewood Today Newspaper was born in 1993 and last published the week before his death.
His newspaper was everything to him as he regularly provided commentary under his “Publisher’s Message” where he championed many of the projects that came into the City. His last message was published June 18 on the importance of Juneteenth celebrations.
“The beauty of this holiday is that Black people didn’t wait around for the country to
figure it out and declare Juneteenth a date to remember. We made community. With
their newfound freedom, we built schools, churches, and businesses. Out of that came
culture, music, recipes, and traditions that still live on today. Juneteenth the spirit of our
humanity regardless of legal recognition. We were always human beings, event as
temporary captives. Juneteenth is about honoring the resilience and joy that came out
of struggle,” wrote Brown.
He was last publicly seen at the swearing in ceremony for Inglewood Councilwoman Gloria Gray who he supported to replace former Inglewood Councilman George Dotson in a hotly contested election in November 2022.
Brown was also a big supporter of Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. for each of his elections and was known for not questioning the city’s leadership decisions.
I will fondly remember Brown for our infrequent meetings at La Louisianne and for his early support of 2 Urban Girls after publishing many of our first articles in his newspaper.
Brown was preceded in death by his wife, Perdita Kennedy Brown, who died from complications from COVID-19 in March 2021. He leaves behind two children who are scheduled to inherit his newspaper, according to Brown during our numerous meetings.
It is not know what will become of his newspaper but he will be surely missed.
