The Black Press in American Journalism“Too long have others spoken for us”

Principles of American Journalism Elissa Yancey, MSEd

Vernon Jarrett, journalist

"We didn’t exist in the early papers. We were never born, we didn’t get married, we didn’t die. We didn’t fight in any wars. We never participated in anything of scientific achievement. We were truly invisible, unless we committed a crime.

But in the black press, the Negro press, we did get married. They showed us our babies being born. They showed us graduating. They showed our Ph.D.’s."

Black Press legacy

Spirited activism defined the Black Press.

African American publishers and journalists understood that their duty was not only to report the news but to help black communities forge cohesive political movements.

They often did so with remarkable success, from their roots in the antislavery movement, to crusades against lynchings, Jim Crow segregation and racist violence, to championing the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

Ida B. Wells

Robert Abbott, Chicago Defender

Published the names of companies who were hiring workers, train schedules, tips on how to adjust to urban life and even poems and songs encouraging African Americans to head north.

By 1916, they did, by the thousands. Increased during WWI with vacant jobs in the North, leaving Southern economy hurting.

Many communities tried to ban the sale of black newspapers. Abbott started distribution through helpful Pullman car porters. The exodus from the South continued.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Black press provided crucial information to African Americans seeking employment, housing, and places to shop that would not discriminate against them.

Through society pages, photographs, cartoons, and other aspects, the Black press provided positive, uplifting images of African Americans and their communities.

At the same time, newspapers devoted themselves to countering the degrading images of African Americans commonly found in the mainstream press, educated public about achievements of African American.

Why?

InnovationsThe Chicago Defender hired Langston Hughes as a columnist and published Gwendolyn Brooks’ poetry.

The Pittsburgh Courier appealed to readers outside of Pittsburgh by basing 15 different editions in cities across the country.

PC’s 'double V' campaign during WWII stood for victory at war over enemies 'from without,’ and victory at home against the enemy of prejudice 'from within.’

Civil Rights Era

Black press strengths: uncompromising political activism, increasing visibility, and recognition of its journalistic excellence, access to sources.

Black press challenges: Red Scare, advertisers, higher pay at mainstream white papers for reporters.

After decades of invisibility and degradation, news of the struggles of Black men and women appeared in the pages of the mainstream press.

The numbers

By 1841 (start of Civil War), 40 Black-owned newspapers.

In early 1920s, 500 Black newspapers were in print in America.

In 1965, 156 Black newspapers were in print.

In 1999, 230 Black newspapers were in print.

In 2010, 200 NNPA members (none daily, many online).

Do you agree?

George McElroy, editor of The Informer and Texas Freeman, underscored the continued need for Black newspapers: "We cover issues that the major dailies don't see or fail to see. We're closer to problems and concerns in our community. We see them first."