Attorney and legal analyst for TV, Midwin Charles, passed away this week at age 47. As news of her passing spread, an outpouring of love and gratitude for her brilliance, beauty and kindness flooded social media from a multitude of sources.
Founder of the legal firm Midwin Charles & Associates LLC, Charles was also a contributor to Essence Magazine. She offered her legal opinion and commentary on pop culture and politics on network TV, including programs on HLN, CNN, MSNBC, Bloomberg TV, and TV One. She was the guest host for “Express Yourself” on New York’s WBLS radio and provided commentary for live trials, daily, on truTV. She lectured at Syracuse University and has written for Huffington Post.
Charles’ family announced the news of her passing the night of April 6 via a Twitter post that read, “It is with a profoundly heavy heart and the deepest sadness that we announce the untimely passing of our beloved Midwin Charles.”
— Midwin Charles, Esq. (@MidwinCharles) April 7, 2021
The news was a shock to the many friends and associates she had, as well as people who were fans of her television appearances over the years.
I’m at a loss for words. I admired her presence whenever she appeared on various cable news talk shows, especially over the past year. May she RIP and her memory continually be a blessing to all who knew and loved her.
— Trust God/practice social distancing/wear a mask (@sweetrain40) April 7, 2021
I’m literally speechless right now. Shocked. Midwin was such a light with such brilliance. May God’s love strengthen her family as they process this and go through this difficult time.
— Kristi Tally (@KDawnSeven) April 7, 2021
I’m so shocked. My condolences to her family. I’m so stunned. This is heartbreaking
— Bella August (@BellaAugust4) April 7, 2021
People shared stories of how they first met Charles or came to know of her and enjoy her perspective on issues like current affairs, civil rights, immigration, and social justice.
Crazy that someone so full of life is no longer w/ us. Midwin was my FAV guest to have while producing Tell Me Everything. Her commentary was so necessary&no one broke down news like her. When she was on we knew it was gonna be GOOD. sending prayers & love to her fam & friends? pic.twitter.com/8A27nJRa9y
— Tati ???? (@taterTATi__) April 7, 2021
I am gutted by this news.? My heart goes out to all of you. I knew Midwin via Essence and she was just such a wonderful woman. Warm, funny, passionate. Such an incisive thinker. I am so very sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace and may her memory be a blessing to you. ??
— Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) April 7, 2021
This is so hard to accept. I loved hearing her on the SiriusXM Urbanview air ways. She will be sorely missed. it’s obvious how much she loved the people and providing information that was easily understood. Rest in power our now ancestor.
— Valerie R. Pounds (@vrpounds2) April 7, 2021
I am so very sorry to learn of the passing of this beautiful, smart, interesting & funny woman. I loved watching her on @MSNBC. Tonight when @JoyAnnReid announced her death, I dropped my cup on the floor & fell to the couch in shock.
??????— Nick “#WearAMask Don’t be a #mASSkhole” P. (@IAmTheRealNickP) April 8, 2021
I attended law school with Midwin. She was the most warm and caring individual in our class. Midwin will be dearly missed. I send my deepest condolences to her family. ??
— DjFallingGirl (@FallingDj) April 7, 2021
My heart is broken! I am devastated!?
Every Friday on Instagram live, Midwin would talk to her audience about today’s news and current events for about 2 hours. It was so much fun, so educational.
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RIP Midwin Charles.??
Nous t’aimons!???? pic.twitter.com/cQI8ldCrMi— Jonathan 19.6%??? (@JonathanDeeGood) April 7, 2021
Then, there was sympathy shared by others who either shared the TV screen with Charles or are public figures, themselves, who knew of her.
“I just want to say how much of a warrior we really lost this week.”@ElieNYC on remembering Midwin Charles. #TheReidOut pic.twitter.com/H8kNLpsKpC
— The ReidOut (@thereidout) April 7, 2021
This is so very sad to hear. Sending love and prayers to Midwin’s family.?
— Maya Harris (@mayaharris_) April 7, 2021
I just heard about the loss of my friend Midwin Charles privately. I’m so sorry to share this news. Midwin was a powerful brilliant voice for legal and political issues. She was brilliant and fearless and had the GREATEST laugh. Thank you for making us better. You did real good https://t.co/bygAThXg9q
— Pete Dominick (@PeteDominick) April 7, 2021
Sending my prayers to Midwin’s family and friends, she was so loved and respected. https://t.co/mPGLy1hTAp
— Tamron Hall (@tamronhall) April 7, 2021
Midwin, you were brilliant, fierce lawyer & analyst as well as a funny and warm soul. The law & legal analyst community will miss you as your family, friends and all the lives you touched. This is the last time we saw each other March 2019 doing @karenhuntershow @SXMUrbanView ? pic.twitter.com/ByeZ1SwP40
— ??????? ???? (@exavierpope) April 7, 2021
@JohnFugelsang John, I’m moved by the words that people are sharing about Midwin. My heart goes out to her family and to those who knew her well…to you. Please share my condolences with her family, especially her mother.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) April 7, 2021
Shocked and saddened by the news of the death of Midwin Charles. She was a gifted and thoughtful legal analyst and a great guest. I loved having her on @PoliticsNation, she will be missed. May she Rest In Peace and Power. #RIPMidwinCharles pic.twitter.com/Fe8KfpxKNy
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) April 7, 2021
One of Charles’ close friends, also a TV commentator for MSNBC and a professor at Morgan State University, Dr. Jason Johnson, penned an emotional “obituary” for The Grio. He wrote fondly of his friend and her impact on the Black community.
“For many of us, Midwin was like Taraji P. Henson before Empire, or Viola Davis before How to Get Away with Murder,” Johnson wrote. “She was Black famous, and we all just knew she was a step away from the opportunity that would give her all the flowers she deserved. She gave all of that love back, too.”
Managed to put together some words about losing my friend @MidwinCharles – one essay can’t capture what she meant to her family, friends and colleagues but hopefully this is a glimpse. #MidwinCharleshttps://t.co/YptOQ0SYRv
— Dr. Jason Johnson (@DrJasonJohnson) April 7, 2021
