Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 14, 1993 TAG: 9311160255
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES ENDRST THE HARTFORD COURANT
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
``I'm here to interview you,'' I said, a little surprised.
``Why?'' she asked, laughing.
I could say, I suppose, that it had something to do with Simpson's new assignment as anchor of ``World News Sunday,'' a broadcast that went from third to first in the ratings since she took over in March. (She had been anchor of ``World News Saturday'' since 1988.)
Just the fact that Simpson, 51, was the first black woman to regularly anchor a network newscast would be enough.
Poised, professional, elegant, Simpson is an Emmy-winning broadcaster with more than 20 years of experience whose off-camera demeanor is far lighter and brighter than her on-air persona.
Best known as moderator of last year's town-meeting-style presidential debate, Simpson, besides her work as a reporter, anchor and occasional substitute for Peter Jennings on ``World News Tonight,'' is a wife, mother and - as I found out - an outspoken advocate working on behalf of minorities, women and children.
``I have reached a stage in my career where I feel it's time to give back,'' says Simpson, who grew up in a ghetto on the south side of Chicago, the daughter of a seamstress and a mail carrier. ``I have achieved some level of success with no help, really, other than my own guts and determination. I never had a mentor. I never had a godfather. ... So one of my missions is to reach young people and try to give them the mentoring, give them the advice, give them the help that I never received.''
Toward that end, Simpson has established college scholarships at the University of Michigan and through the Radio and Television News Directors Association.
``Carole has really made a big point of being available both to women in the business and people of color in the business,'' says Cokie Roberts, ABC correspondent and longtime friend. ``Not just as a model to look up to but available with he r time and help.''
There's a reason for that, says Simpson.
``People find it surprising that I have truly suffered racial discrimination and sex discrimination,'' she says, explaining that being a woman stood in her way more often than the color of her skin.
``People find that odd,'' she says. ``But more times than not I heard: `We can't do it because you're a woman.' Or `We can't have women doing this.' Or `Women don't like to hear other women on the air.' Or `Women can't be bosses.' Constantly.''
Some insiders say Simpson, while popular, is a little prone to dramatics - talking a little too fast out of school.
The importance of having a 51-year-old black woman in a key anchor position cannot be underestimated, says Roberts, who has broken into some boys' clubs of her own, such as ``This Week With David Brinkley.''
``What our generation of women is doing in television is pushing the envelope,'' she says. ``Really, before us, women who came in were one at a time, and they had incredible barriers to overcome. But the barriers stayed there right behind them. Whereas we came in as an entire generation and started pushing the barriers down - and I have the splinters to show for it.''
Simpson, however, fears for the future.
``I'm sorry to say it,'' she begins, ``I used to think that if I worked and fought and struggled it would be easier for the young women coming behind me. And I'm sorry to say I don't feel that way any longer. And I think we have to be ever vigilant - that if we are not careful we're going to see stuff backslide.''
She talks about one of her two children, 23-year-old Mallika, a medical student.
``I used to think, `Oh, I'm gonna work hard and she won't have to fight sexism and racism.'''
Simpson smiles one of her gleaming smiles and laughs.
``She's gonna have to fight it. She's gonna always have to fight it,'' she concludes. ``I kind of boiled it down to the comfort factor that people in positions of power want to be around people that they're comfortable with and often that's not a black female. Often it's not a female. Often it's not a black male. ... The `glass ceiling' is real. As cliche as that is, it seems for many of us that, `OK, we'll let you get this far but that's about it.'''
At least Simpson gives them something to shoot for.
by CNB