By Mary L. Datcher

When a child receives the support and love from their parents—it is priceless. It can shape their viewpoint and build self-confidence knowing they are protected in the pursuit of their goals. Cheryl Burton grew up in a household where she and five siblings were nurtured with unconditional love from both parents. Born at Provident Hospital on Christmas Day, she was the fourth of five children. Her bond with her father was special whose birthday was on Christmas Eve.

Recently promoted to the news anchor of ABC 7 Chicago 5 pm and 10 pm newscast, Burton is the second African American woman to hold this position in the station’s history. She recalls the day she first interviewed for the news reporter job 26 years ago. “My dad died when I was interviewing at Channel 7. He had a heart attack, so he never knew I got the job. I was working in Wichita, Kansas at the time and he would send me letters and cards telling me that someone else was leaving so you can home now. He didn’t know you had to get the interview for the job,” she smiles. “I have all of his letters and cards encouraging me to come to Chicago.” Interviewing at several local stations, Burton decided to accept the job at ABC 7.

Cheryl Burton with her siblings.

Born and raised in the Chatham community, she attended Chicago Public Schools throughout her youth. She attended Neal Elementary, Dixon and went on to graduate from Lindblom Math and Science Academy. She says, “I had perfect attendance in high school. I ended up being the cheerleading captain. I wanted to be a doctor at first and then a ballerina, but then my parents were like ‘Hmmm, no you’re going to college.” Migrating up North from Birmingham, Alabama, her parents would often get a hold of the Chicago Defender to keep updated on the latest news affecting Black communities. It was also a publication that would promote opportunities for Black Southerners to relocate to Northern big towns like Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.

“My mom was educated in a little red schoolhouse. My dad went to college with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Morehouse University. They were both Alphas (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.). I have a history of people who’s been in my life. Every summer, we would visit our relatives, so I knew the difference of living in Chicago and living down South,” Burton says. “My parents moved here from Cheyanne, Wyoming by way of Birmingham, Alabama. My mom was a school teacher, and during that time in Cheyanne, they wouldn’t allow her to teach to white students because she was African American. She had a master’s degree, but the only position she could get was a typing job in the US Air Force, that’s where my father was.” Burton says it’s the main reason why she and her siblings were able to type—each receiving their typewriter.

Cheryl Burton and fellow-Chatham native, Common.

Never missing a day at Lindblom, Burton was accepted to the University of Illinois at Champaign- Urbana. There, she continued to take ballet classes and eventually pledging Delta—follow in her mom’s footsteps who was also a lifetime member Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Burton would pursue a career in news broadcast after earning her
bachelor’s degree. Growing up on the Southside of Chicago prepared her to survive in the most challenging situations but what motivated her beyond her city? In high school, she volunteered as an usher, where she was able to check out theatrical shows, concerts, and games—exposing her to various people from all walks of life.

Today, she credits her parents for that type of exposure and to explore a city she genuinely loves. It has become an incredible formula for Burton’s success. While she reports daily on news breaking stories, her empathy is present for stories that tug at the human spirit—it’s a natural trait that has built her a strong following among viewers.

“I am full of compassion, so certain stories are going to touch me. Like the family from Indianapolis who drowned in Branson, Missouri. I don’t know them, but I can’t imagine that kind of tragedy because it’s something my family would do. We would go on a boat or bus, and we would do that together. How can life change in an instant? I work in the newsroom every day and every minute is breaking news,” she explains.

“The young lady at Griffith Beach who went swimming and went missing—her father put a bible in the sand. That comes from who you are, not everyone’s parent has done that. He went to sit in the water, to look for his child, to feel her to let her know I’m still looking for you,” she sighs. “Those are the situations affected you; there’s no way I’m not going to go home at night and not think about her. I’m going to remember her name—it’s something that will touch me for the rest of my life.”

Throughout Burton’s illustrious career, her attention to detail and compassion has landed her on the list of ‘exclusives’—interviewing Oprah Winfrey in the final season of her show and being the only Chicago journalist to snag the interview. Her journey has taken her to South Africa for the launch of Winfrey’s all-girls school where she met young female students from all over Africa sharing their stories.

Audiences of all ages and communities have enjoyed her interview with fellow Chatham native, Chance the Rapper to her in-depth coverage of the 50th Anniversary of MLK’s assassination in Memphis. “I’m human first. That’s at the core when I wake up every day, I thank God for another day of service. So, when a story touches my heart because I’m human, it’s like ‘O My Gosh, this is real.’ I tell people, we don’t pick our parents so where you’re at in life is not by anything but how God has guided your steps.

Note: This article was originally published in the inaugural issue of Bronzeville Life Vol. 1 for August/September 2018.

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