Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy Photo Roland Martin, Class of '91, is a CNN analyst and TV One Cable Network commentator. He is a published author and was named as one of the 150 Most Influential African Americans in the United States in 2008 by Ebony Magazine. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Courtesy Photo [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Courtesy Photo [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Courtesy Photo [Click to enlarge]

I magine a crime scene ­- blood splattered on a table and chairs, a man's pale lifeless face, blood drains onto the floor from the fatal bullet wound.

Now imagine the victim is a friend and it is your job to investigate the homicide. This was the daunting task that plagued journalist Roland Martin.

"I talked to him that Friday. He was gunned down in his office," Martin said. "I had become close to him because he was one of my sources."

Martin said he was very close to the victim, yet he had to cover the story as a journalist - objectively and without emotion.

"It is the nature of what we do," he said.

Martin graduated from Texas A&M in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. After 18 years in the field, he said he remembers A&M with fondness and affection.

He has covered issues like the Oklahoma City federal building bombing and individuals such as President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush. He is one of many Aggie success stories for students.

"People say, 'How can a black guy like A&M?' And I say why not? There is a sense of family, friendship and camaraderie at A&M," he said. "I appreciated the time being there [at A&M] for four years as I began to mature and grow and do various things."

Martin and one of his sisters followed in their older brother's footsteps to become Aggies.

"Our older brother came home and he was doing the Farmers Fight from Midnight Yell. And oh my goodness, we were hooked," said Martin's sister LaVita

Marshall, Class of 1992.

Reginald Martin said he was happy to go somewhere and tell people how he is related to Martin.

"I tell people that I am his dad and all I hear is good words for him," he said. "It is the greatest time as a parent to experience that feeling."

His father recounted how he had wanted Martin to study business or engineering in college. But then he realized his son's passion for journalism.

"Journalism is what he wanted to do and I am happy for him," he said.

He said he has three children who are Aggies and they had made a good choice in coming to A&M.

"I am quite pleased," he said. "They went to school where they wanted and I am happy for all of them."

Martin said he remembered some of his teachers, including Douglas Starr, an agricultural communications and journalism professor.

"I loved his energy that he brought the most," Martin said.

Starr said Martin had been determined to succeed and he did an incredible job. Martin had taken an advanced media writing class with him and kept up with the pace.

"I am demanding in that course," Starr said. "You do it over and over again until you get it right. He kept at it and he got it. He has succeeded more than even he expected."

Starr said he taught Martin the art of writing stories, asking questions and thinking about issues.

"I wish I had a few more like him," Starr said. "The country would be served."

Martin said he knew he was going to be a journalist since he was in middle school. His sister said it might have been because their dad used to watch the news every day.

"We were constantly surrounded by the news," she said.

One of the things Martin said attracted him to journalism was how it changes constantly.

"I have a passion for what I do. I enjoy my days for what they are. And, it all changes, there is nothing consistent about this business."

He said being a black journalist provides a unique view.

"I have a different view of the world. I bring all of that to whatever I am doing," he said. "It is important to have a variety of opinions because people see the world differently."

Martin said he faced discrimination once when he was in College Station and had applied to a local CBS affiliate as a sports intern.

"I got to know that the director would not hire me because I was African American," he said.

Reflecting on the reputation of A&M, Martin said that with a university of A&M's size, one was expected to face some racism or sexism.

"If you ask, is there sexism or racism in this world? Yes there is. You may encounter it anywhere. [Racism] does not define A&M."

Marshall said her brother is one of the most dedicated men devoted to his field and that he has an intense personality.

"Wherever he goes, he has his laptop right there. He never takes anything for granted," she said.

Martin said when dealing with tragic situations like the Oklahoma bombings, it dawns on a journalist what they actually have to do.

"[To] see the building blown up and the destruction, to see people bleeding and covered with soot. You have to convey to the public, death and the mayhem," Martin said. "It changes your perspective in that way."

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