Sandra L West

Mar 1, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), African Americans, Authors, Journalists and Writers, Born or raised in Newark (high school or before)

1947-2019

Sandra West was a 1964 Weequahic graduate. She was the editor of the Black Organization for Students newsletter at Rutgers and first African American female editor of Rutgers Observer.

Sandra worked as a journalist for Information published by the City of Newark, as well as in multiple other journalism positions and freelance for publications like Metro-Newark and Essence, and founded her own publication Testimony: A Journal of African American Poetry In 2003, she published Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance.

Sandra cofounded the Newark Writers Collective and founded the Frances Harper Literary Society and WEB Dubois Reading Circle (the latter two met at Newark Library).

Sandra worked as an instructor at Rutgers and managed the James Brown African American Room at the Newark Library, also curating exhibits and programs. She curated exhibits on Black doctors and Black theater in Newark, among others.

Sandra was President of the Chadwick Avenue Block Association. She was extremely active in St. James AME, including working as public relations director, and Bethany Baptist churches. She also worked with the Newark Episcopal Cooperate for Mission and Ministry. Her married names included Whiteur and Vann. In 1979, she won an award for helping reduce infant mortality in the Newark area.