Tag: Black Culture Series
-
Celebrating Black Journalists in History – A Series
In honor of Black History Month, how about a celebration of Black Journalists throughout history? Because I have been a professional journalist for over twenty years, and a professor of journalism for a decade, I have the utmost respect and admiration for journalists. Particularly those brave journalists who have weaponized their words to bring about…
-
Is The Root.com Today’s Freedom Journal?
NOTE: Since this post was originally published, TheRoot.com has gone through some significant changes and a lot of former writers and editors have spoken out about the publication’s perceived fall from grace. In the last few months many key members of The Root’s editorial staff have departed. I have no insider’s knowledge of the situation,…
-
“Soldiers without Swords,” The Definitive Film about the Black Press
I am having such a good time with this series on Black journalists. For today’s post, rather than just another biographical profile, I want to talk about Soldiers without Swords, the definitive film about Black journalists and the Black press. The film was produced and directed by legendary filmmaker, Stanley Nelson. This award-winning film begins…
-
Robert S. Abbott and The Chicago Defender
Today’s Black journalist profile is about a man who had no problem speaking truth to power. Allow me to introduce Robert S. Abbott, the founder and publisher of The Chicago Defender newspaper. More than a successful publisher, Robert S. Abbott was a singular force who helped thousands of Black people move from the American south…
-
Frederick Douglass the Journalist
I know everyone is familiar with the life and times of Frederick Douglass, the great orator, author and activist. But many people don’t know that Frederick Douglass was also a great journalist. As the original Word Warrior, Frederick Douglass quickly learned to use the press as a weapon in the fight against slavery. Let’s talk…
-
John Russwurm: Journalist for Freedom
Meet John Russwurm. To some people, Russwurm’s name may be familiar because he was one of the original editors of Freedom’s Journal, the first newspaper in the United States published by African Americans. The year was 1827. But Russwurm’s life story has far more chapters than that. Early Years John Brown Russwurm was born…
