Four Women of the African-American Press
From its establishment in 1827, the African-American press has played an integral role in fighting racial and social injustice in the United States.
For African-American women, the press was also important to exposing sexism in United States' society.
African-American such as Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Josephine St. Ruffin, Ida B. Wells-Barnet and Charlotta Bass all worked as news publishers in a time when women--especially African-American women--were not expected to achieve such an accomplishment.
Mary Ann Shadd Cary was the first woman to publish and edit a newspaper in North America. She was also the first woman to publish a newspaper in Canada.
The weekly newspaper, Provincial Freeman was launched in 1852. While Cary's brother Isaac managed the daily operations of the news publication, Cary wrote editorials arguing for emigration, racial integration, education and self-reliance for African-Americans.
For her relentless fight for justice and freedom for African-Americans, Cary is known as “The Rebel.” More »
In July of 1896 when Southern journalist, James Jacks referred to African-American women as “prostitutes" and claimed that they "were all thieves and liars,” Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin responded swiftly.
The African-American writer and suffragette wrote an editorial in her newspaper, The Women's Era arguing that the best way to fight racism and sexism was through social-political activism by stating, "Too long have we been silent under unjust and unholy charges; we cannot expect to have them removed until we disprove them through ourselves."
Ruffin established The Women's Era in 1890. The newspaper was the first to be published by and for African-American women. In its pages were news articles that reported the achievements of African-American women and editorials encouraging a fight for African-American women's rights.
As a result of Ruffin's work as a publisher, the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) was established.
In 1889, Ida B. Wells, quit her job as a schoolteacher. Wells, who had been writing part time under the pen name Iola, decided she was ready to do more than write for a newspaper. She was ready to own one.
Working with Reverend R. Nightingale, Wells launched Free Speech and Headlight. Urging the congregation and other community members to subscribe to the publication, Wells-Barnett and Nightingale became successful business owners.
In the newspaper, Wells advocated for an end to lynching, discrimination in public places and as made appeals for women's rights. More »
In 1912, Charlotta Bass purchased a weekly African-American newspaper for $50 at a public auction. The newspaper was called The Owl and its owner, John James Neimore had died.
The African-American community in Los Angeles was in need of a media outlet that would report their news. Following the purchase, Bass renamed the paper, The California Eagle. She would serve as its publisher until 1951.
For almost forty years, Bass used the pages of The California Eagle to advocate for racial and social reform.
In 1915, Bass began the campaign against D.W. Griffith’s film Birth of a Nation. Other newspapers and civil rights organizations followed suit and as a result, it was taken out of movie theaters in several major cities. Bass also reported on discriminatory hiring and house practices in Los Angeles, domestic terrorist groups such as the Klu Klux Klan, as well as police brutality.
The newspaper business was not new to Bass. Her husband, Joseph, had served as editor of the Topeka Plain Dealer and Montana Plain Dealer.
For African-American women, the press was also important to exposing sexism in United States' society.
African-American such as Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Josephine St. Ruffin, Ida B. Wells-Barnet and Charlotta Bass all worked as news publishers in a time when women--especially African-American women--were not expected to achieve such an accomplishment.
1. Mary Ann Shadd Cary: Provincial Freeman
Mary Ann Shadd Cary was the first woman to publish and edit a newspaper in North America. She was also the first woman to publish a newspaper in Canada.
The weekly newspaper, Provincial Freeman was launched in 1852. While Cary's brother Isaac managed the daily operations of the news publication, Cary wrote editorials arguing for emigration, racial integration, education and self-reliance for African-Americans.
For her relentless fight for justice and freedom for African-Americans, Cary is known as “The Rebel.” More »
2. Josephine St. Ruffin: The Women's Era
In July of 1896 when Southern journalist, James Jacks referred to African-American women as “prostitutes" and claimed that they "were all thieves and liars,” Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin responded swiftly.
The African-American writer and suffragette wrote an editorial in her newspaper, The Women's Era arguing that the best way to fight racism and sexism was through social-political activism by stating, "Too long have we been silent under unjust and unholy charges; we cannot expect to have them removed until we disprove them through ourselves."
Ruffin established The Women's Era in 1890. The newspaper was the first to be published by and for African-American women. In its pages were news articles that reported the achievements of African-American women and editorials encouraging a fight for African-American women's rights.
As a result of Ruffin's work as a publisher, the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) was established.
3. Ida B. Wells-Barnett: Memphis Free Speech
In 1889, Ida B. Wells, quit her job as a schoolteacher. Wells, who had been writing part time under the pen name Iola, decided she was ready to do more than write for a newspaper. She was ready to own one.
Working with Reverend R. Nightingale, Wells launched Free Speech and Headlight. Urging the congregation and other community members to subscribe to the publication, Wells-Barnett and Nightingale became successful business owners.
In the newspaper, Wells advocated for an end to lynching, discrimination in public places and as made appeals for women's rights. More »
4. Charlotta Bass: The California Eagle
In 1912, Charlotta Bass purchased a weekly African-American newspaper for $50 at a public auction. The newspaper was called The Owl and its owner, John James Neimore had died.
The African-American community in Los Angeles was in need of a media outlet that would report their news. Following the purchase, Bass renamed the paper, The California Eagle. She would serve as its publisher until 1951.
For almost forty years, Bass used the pages of The California Eagle to advocate for racial and social reform.
In 1915, Bass began the campaign against D.W. Griffith’s film Birth of a Nation. Other newspapers and civil rights organizations followed suit and as a result, it was taken out of movie theaters in several major cities. Bass also reported on discriminatory hiring and house practices in Los Angeles, domestic terrorist groups such as the Klu Klux Klan, as well as police brutality.
The newspaper business was not new to Bass. Her husband, Joseph, had served as editor of the Topeka Plain Dealer and Montana Plain Dealer.
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