African American Press

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The African American Press also known as The Black Press was established on March 16, 1827 with the first publication of the Freedom’s Journal. It is half the age of the white press which began 137 years earlier.

1 What is the African American Press?
2 The Beginning
3 The History
4 References

[edit] What is the African American Press?

There are three distinct qualifications which a publication must meet in order to be considered a part of the black press: 1. Blacks must own and manage the publication, they must be the dominant racial group connected with it. This requirement is instilled because without it the goals, aims, and wants of the black people may not be fulfilled as the non blacks may have opposing, differing, unsympathetic views. 2. The publication must be intended for black consumers just as an art magazine is intended for artists or those who enjoy art. As long as there is a cultural and ethical difference between blacks and other races there will be black press. 3. The paper or magazine must “serve, speak, and fight for the black minority” and also must have the major objective of fighting for “equality for the Negro in the present white society. Equality means the equality of citizenship rights”

[edit] The Beginning

Mordecai M. Noah, the editor of the New York Enquirer, stated that it would be easier to get rid of the free blacks on the city streets than to assimilate them into the American culture although, he believed that slavery should stay. He also said that African Americans should be deported back to their countries so as not to threaten the current “institution of slavery”. Following these outlandish remarks the need to retort them was extreme but, blacks had no voice in the press at the time. They did not want their white friends to express their anger for them and so Freedom’s Journal was born along with the beginning of the African American Press.

[edit] The History

The African American Press has a long history that can be divided into nine different time periods. The periods are separated by what the black press was fighting or working towards at that particular time. 1. The antebellum, antislavery era (1827-1861): The papers fought for freedom. 2. Civil War and Reconstruction era (1861-1877): They focused on education and an American identity for blacks 3. Reaction and Adjustment (1877-1915): It began with the ending of reconstruction and ended with the death of Booker T. Washington. It was a time of extreme violence, including lynching, towards blacks. 4. The Great Migration and World War I (1915-1928): Many blacks were leaving the south and heading north so papers printed notices for friends and family about where people were and if they had made it north or were still in the south. They also posted notices on jobs and helped with housing. They provided tips for safe traveling and transportation. They also fought for equality and better treatment for black soldiers. 5. The Great Depression (1929-1939): This continues all the way up to World War II. The papers were still fighting to end violence. They were also fighting for equal treatment in employment. 6. WWII (1939-1945): They fought still for an end to violence and equal military treatment. 7. The cold war era (1946-1959): This covered the period from after the war to the beginning of the civil rights movement. They fought to end violence and segregation. There were a few business sit-ins that ended a short time after. 8. The civil rights movement (1960-1976): This began in Greensboro, NC. The papers took a turn in position. They were no longer encouraging people to go out and fight for what they believed in, people were actually doing it. Instead they were now reporting what blacks were out fighting for. 9. Present Day (1976-now): The papers give a perspective and opinion concerning the black community on modern day events and occurrences.