Longtime St. Joseph journalist inspires a new generation

By Chris Fortune

A St. Joseph journalist with a decadeslong career is inspiring young Black people to pursue writing, including a member of his own family.

Alonzo Weston has lived in St. Joseph for nearly his entire life. Over his 31 years with the St. Joseph News-Press, he stayed involved in the community and made sure to pass on his knowledge.

He was always interested in reading and writing. It was something that caught the attention of his grandmother, who empowered him to continue those hobbies.

“She knew that I liked to read and write, so she made sure that I had a lot of books available,” he said.

His love of reading and writing led him to the St. Joseph News-Press in 1989, and when he started, his only focus was doing his job to the best of his ability.

“That was just a dream of mine. I said, ‘Man, I want to work there one day,’” he said. “And then I got my opportunity, and I was determined that I was gonna make it last.”

It was his dream job, but that didn’t mean it was always easy. Weston said not many people believed there was a Black reporter at the News-Press at the time.

“I’ve been ran out of places, had the cops called on me and all kinds of crap, you know,” he said. “In the beginning, they had guns put on me. I used to get a lot of hate mail, too, because of my beliefs, the political beliefs.”

Many of the hostilities subsided as he became well-known in the community, but he was never too concerned because he knew he belonged as a member of the press.

“I’m not afraid of anything,” he said. “So I was able to go into these little small towns, you know, being the only Black person there, walking around and asking questions,” he said.

While working at the News-Press, Weston served as one of the first chairs of the Black Archives Museum.

“He’s been involved with the Black Archives Museum for a long time,” St. Joseph Museums Director Sara Wilson said. “I know that that’s been an important aspect of his research, is making sure that he’s been researching Black history, St. Joseph Black history in particular, and making sure that some of that is made accessible for the public and preserved.”

Some of Weston’s work can be found in the gift shop of the Black Archives Museum.

“We have his book in the gift shop, Street Smarts, which is a collection of some of his writings from the News-Press, from his time at the News-Press,” she said. “And, you know, he really is a prolific author, and he’s a very thoughtful author.”

Weston was involved in a museum project called In Their Own Words. The video covers the civil rights period in St. Joseph and includes conversations with community members.

Wilson said she believes he is one of the most respected Black leaders in the community.

“He certainly thinks deeply, and his writings at the newspaper, I think, have almost put him into sort of a local celebrity status,” she said. “I think he’s well thought of. And people just really enjoy when he shares his knowledge and the things that he’s researching and thinking about.”

His knowledge is something he wanted to make sure he shared with his granddaughter. Asia Weston is a senior studying journalism at Missouri Western State University. She remembers the weekend trips they would often take together.

“He would take me to museums, all sorts of different places to really expand my mind and to teach me new things,” she said. “And so I just sort of fell in love with (journalism) through that, through getting to meet so many new people and learn new perspectives.”

Alonzo Weston even helped start Hawkfest, an annual jazz and blues festival at Coleman-Hawkins Park.

“Every time we had some festival here, it was always western music,” he said. “And I said, ‘Why don’t we have some jazz or something else?’”

His willingness to take on tasks and stay engaged with the community is something he wanted to instill in Asia.

“I still have a lot of growing to do, but I’m more mature, and we can sit down and have conversations just about life,” she said. “He’s taught me to really carry myself and to believe in myself, especially when it’s hard.”

Alonzo Weston said it’s a great feeling that his granddaughter is following in his footsteps in journalism. He has worn many hats in his career, but now he has taken on the role of a doting grandfather.

“I’ve got somebody that’s going to be here to see my footsteps that’s in my family — it’s my granddaughter,” he said. “She’s beautiful and she’s smart, so, yeah, she’s got a lot more going for her than I do.”