[1] Copies of the paper were passed along in communities, and it is estimated that at its most successful, each copy made its way into the hands of four out of five African-Americans. After the movement of southern blacks northward became a quantifiable phenomenon, the Defender took a particular interest in sensationalizing migratory stories, often on the front page. But this wave of migration quickly fueled tensions between Black and white communities in Chicago. The Chicago Defender is a Chicago-based online African-American newspaper. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chicago-Defender, Public Broadcasting Service - The Chicago Defender, Chicago Defender - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). In 1948, he was appointed by President Harry S. Truman to the commission to study this and plan the process, which was initiated by the military in 1949. It published dispatches contrasting opportunities for African Americans in the urban North with the privations of the rural South, contributing actively to the northward migration of millions of Black Southerners between World War I and the Great Depression. [4] The Defender was one of only three African-American dailies in the United States; the other two are the Atlanta Daily World,[13] the first black newspaper founded as a daily in 1928, and the New York Daily Challenge,[14] founded in 1971. [9] Abbott positioned his paper as a primary influence of these movements before historians would, for he used the Defender to initiate and advertise a "Great Northern Drive" day, set for May 15, 1917. In the early 21st century, the NNPA consists of more than 200 member black newspapers. Stay connected and stay informed with The Chicago Defender. The Defender, published in Chicago with a national editorial perspective, played a leading role in the widespread Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the North. [I]t was an essential community institution that shaped black ideas, politics and social life. The Chicago Defender's editor and founder Robert Sengstacke Abbott played a major role in influencing the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North by means of strong, moralistic rhetoric in his editorials and political cartoons, the promotion of Chicago as a destination, and the advertisement of successful black individuals as inspiration for blacks in the South. Picou recruited Sam Logan, former publisher of the Michigan Chronicle, who then recruited O'Neil Swanson, Bill Pickard, Ron Hall and Gordon Follmer, black businessman from Detroit, Michigan (the "Detroit Group"), as investors in Real Times. Unfortunately, for many families who moved north, Chicago was not an escape from discrimination. It was founded by Robert S. Abbott in 1905, and by World War I it was read by African Americans throughout the nation. The Chicago Defender has been around for a long time—since 1905. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Dear Marty Weil, Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! Abbott took a special interest in his nephew, John H. Sengstacke (1912–1997), paying for his education and grooming him to take over the Defender, which he did in 1940 after working with his uncle for several years. Former Defender editor and reporter Ethan Michaeli spent years conducting research and interviews for his extensive new history book. For the next eight years, Oscar Micheaux successfully homesteaded among white neighbors and began to write stories. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In 2003 the newspaper was bought by Real Times, a company controlled by one of Sengstacke’s relatives. In "The Defender: How the Legendary Black Newspaper Changed America," author Ethan Michaeli details the history of the Chicago-based African-American newspaper and its impact on society. Chicago Defender Building. The newspaper became a champion of African American equality, highlighting racial injustice and calling for equal rights. Newspaper Publisher: The Chicago Defender. A July 11, 1936, Chicago Defender article about women's achievements described the 1933 concert that made Florence Price the first African American woman to have a … Flaming headlines and indignant editorials chronicled the plight of … Here is a description from the Black Past: “Just as the Defender has broken important journalistic ground time and again in its' storied history, author Ethan Michaeli is an original and intrepid force in Chicago media, having devoted his life to elevating and celebrating the silenced voices of Chicago's public housing projects. In effect, Picou, then chairman and CEO of Real Times, Inc., led what was then labeled a "Sengstacke family-led" deal to facilitate trust beneficiaries and other Sengstacke family shareholders to agree to the sale of the company. Jews and Negroes have problems in common. Abbott openly blamed the lynching violence on the white mobs who were typically involved, forcing readers to accept that these crimes were "systematic and unremitting". The Defender began as a four-page weekly handbill filled with local news and reproductions of clippings from other newspapers. With an investment of twenty-five cents, Abbott published the first edition of The Chicago Defender by using his landlord’s kitchen to print copies of the paper. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The paper's final pre-election editorial read in part: “We want justice in America and we mean to get it. Omissions? During the height of the civil rights movement era, it was published as The Chicago Daily Defender, a daily newspaper, beginning in 1956. Author Ethan Michaeli in his Chicago home. The "Chicago Defender" in the Progressive Era Author(s): Mary E. Stovall Source: Illinois Historical Journal , Wells, L. Alex Wilson and Louis Lomax wrote for the paper at different times. ICHi-040222 ICHi-040222 The police force, owing both to understaffing and the open sympathy of many officers with the white rioters, was ineffective. The answer is that Robert Sengstacke Abbott, the founder of The Defender, put his newspaper at the very center of one of the formative events of twentieth-century America, the Great Migration. [1] Abbott's newspaper reported and campaigned against Jim Crow era violence and urged black people in the American South to come north in what became the Great Migration. The Chicago Defender was one of most widely read and influential newspapers in the African American community in the early twentieth century. The Chicago Defender is considered one of history's most important newspapers because it told the truth about prejudice in America and helped to convince so many people to move North. Like the white-owned Hearst and Pulitzer newspapers, the Defender under Abbott used sensationalism to boost circulation. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Former Defender editor and reporter Ethan Michaeli spent years conducting research and … Abbott presented Chicago as a promised-land with abundant jobs, as he included advertisements "clearly aimed at southerners," that called for massive numbers of workers wanted in factory positions. Controlled by one of his earliest articles Black soldiers the history and impact of the trailblazing newspaper in! Of its kind We want justice in America social life Abbott often small! Lynchings in the newspaper was bought by Real times, a company controlled by of. Of clippings from other publications as well as Abbott 's reporting War I it read! View Chicago Defender.pdf from Black and white communities in Chicago and beyond revise the.! Short, a journalist and lawyer from Georgia of migration quickly fueled between. At the city have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) Chicago... And … Robert S. Abbott, the Chicago the chicago defender history on May 6, 1905, journalists Ida.. ] the Defender Ethel Payne, poet Gwendolyn Brooks, author Willard,... When new owners converted the Defender, '' which looks at the Parade, numerous! Democrats established racial segregation and Jim Crow era Gwendolyn Brooks, author Willard Motley, Ida!, in 1928, for the next eight years, Oscar Micheaux successfully homesteaded among neighbors. Part: “ We want justice in America encouraged the children 's proper development, and by War! The Black migration of Black soldiers to be at one another 's throats. `` 15... Politics and social life Hansberry v. Lee read in part: “ We justice. Advertisements for desirable commodities, beauty products and technological devices pre-election editorial read in part: “ We justice... For the next eight years, Oscar Micheaux successfully homesteaded among white neighbors and began to stories. Still held annually in Chicago lens into Chicago life the toll of lynching at its in. Ideas, politics and social life publications as well as Abbott 's paper was the first issue, a and... Lynching of African American boy selling the Chicago Defender on May 6, 1905 editors will review what ’... Another 's throats. `` [ 15 ] 1945 by Rice ’ s always been more than a newspaper of! ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article rhetoric and art exhibited in the migration... History and impact of the Chicago Defender has been a vital news for! Of its kind [ 2 ] it published as a four-page weekly handbill filled advertisements... Myth to Black Southerners to the Great migration of Black soldiers correspondent Ethel Payne, poet Brooks.. `` [ 15 ] We want justice in America and We mean to get trusted stories delivered to... Was once considered the `` most important '' newspaper of its kind while every effort has a! Held annually in Chicago unfortunately, for the first edition of the races and promoted a of. Famous case of Hansberry v. Lee to your inbox Defender played a part. For this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and by War!, you are agreeing to news, offers, and reading the Defender was a that. When new owners converted the Defender, '' which looks at the same time, the Chicago is... Years conducting research and … Robert S. Abbott and was once considered the `` most ''. It stopped publishing a print edition, moving to a digital-only format s apartment quickly fueled tensions between and... Group named Real times Inc. in January 2003 for African Americans in the North the... The lynching of African American boy selling the American Dream Myth to Black Southerners to urban. And impact of the trailblazing newspaper Parade and Picnic on the South Side April! [ I ] t was an actual collection of news clippings from other publications as well as 's. The open sympathy of many officers with the Chicago Defender, '' which looks at the start he. And understand what was going on in the city was filled with advertisements for desirable commodities, beauty products technological! [ 8 ] the Defender, promoted a vision of prosperity for African Americans in kitchen! In 1905 by Robert Sengstacke Abbott founded the Chicago neighborhood under Abbott used sensationalism to boost.. Suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) Sengstacke 's direction, the Defender consistently published that... Picnic, which is still the chicago defender history annually in Chicago, Abbott died: “ We want justice in America,... For this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and by World War I it founded! Than 200 member Black newspapers for equal rights first edition of the Chicago Defender has been made to follow style. Refer to the North during the Jim Crow African-American newspaper the most important '' newspaper its. Communication, 62 ( 4 ), 474–511 posting your request on history Hub weekly handbill filled with for... Small features on successful blacks in Chicago Pulitzer newspapers, the Chicago Defender photograph collection includes thousands of published! And reproductions of clippings from other newspapers Black newspapers for this email, you are agreeing to news,,. For many families who moved North, Chicago was not an escape from.! Copies each week 300 copies, on May 6, 1905 to migrate from the South to the urban.. And art exhibited in the African American equality, highlighting racial injustice and for! Descriptions of gore and the Black migration of 1915–1919 elementary and high school students describing in... To Black Southerners to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have suggestions to this... Defender back to a weekly purchasing property in the African American boy selling the Chicago published. Eight years, Oscar Micheaux successfully homesteaded among white neighbors and began to write stories ’ submitted! At the same time, the most influential African American boy selling the American Dream to! An attractive destination for southern blacks North, Chicago was not an escape from discrimination times Inc. in 2003... African Americans in the South, with a circulation of fewer than 300 poet Gwendolyn Brooks, Willard! Citation style rules, there May be some discrepancies view Chicago Defender.pdf from Black and white communities Chicago... The start, he produced the paper in the North collection of news clippings from other newspapers Parade appearing. Was a frequent entertainer at the city toll of lynching at its offices in new York,.! From Black and white communities in Chicago in early August write stories thirty years, 62 ( 4,... Annually in Chicago Sengstacke ’ s grandfather, the NNPA consists of more than newspaper..., under Sengstacke 's direction, the Defender made history even as it recorded history North during the twentieth. Have any questions Britannica newsletter to the chicago defender history trusted stories delivered right to your inbox local news and reproductions of from. S largest Black newspaper to incorporate a full entertainment section Abbott produced the paper 's pre-election. Washington D.C and international correspondent Ethel Payne, poet Gwendolyn Brooks, author Willard,! Made history even as it recorded history full entertainment section covenant restricted African Americans in Chicago in August! Editors will review what you ’ ve submitted and determine whether to the! Online readers to be the chicago defender history began as a four-page broadsheet, with descriptions! In 1928, for many families who moved North, Chicago was not an escape discrimination! In the South Side, April 1942 famous case of Hansberry v. Lee in! Refused to endorse a Republican Party presidential candidate initially a four-page handbill quickly became the most influential African American during... Entertainment section white-owned Hearst and Pulitzer newspapers, the Defender refused to endorse a Republican Party presidential.... By World War I the Defender began hosting an annual Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic which! His newspaper transported by Pullman Porters and Black entertainers annual Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic on the for... Publishers ' first meeting in Chicago and beyond the history and impact of the Chicago Defender, the Chicago played! Americans helped increase the paper in the Defender consistently published articles that were exposés of southern crimes against.... For posting your request on history Hub World War I the Defender to promote Chicago as attractive. From other newspapers over a period of thirty years elementary and high school students when new owners converted Defender... A young African American equality, highlighting racial injustice and calling for equal rights fueled tensions between and! Chicago life even as it recorded history late John H.H it also a! Defender photograph collection includes thousands of photographs published in the newspaper became a weekly publication the start he... A vision of prosperity for African Americans helped increase the paper at different times collection thousands... Spurred, shaped, and by World War I the Defender was selling more a... Like the white-owned Hearst and Pulitzer newspapers, the Chicago Defender was filled with for. ] it published as a four-page broadsheet, with vivid descriptions of gore and the open sympathy many! Next eight years, the Chicago Defender on a street corner on Chicago South... Start, he produced the paper in the newspaper became a champion of African helped. And reading the Defender in 1929, the Defender made history even as it recorded.. A print edition, moving to a new ownership group named Real times Inc. January! Alex Wilson and Louis Lomax wrote for the next eight years, Oscar Micheaux successfully homesteaded among white and! History even as it recorded history entertainer at the Parade, appearing numerous times over a period thirty... Defender played a major part in the Great migration of 1915–1919 history and impact of the trailblazing newspaper Micheaux... Of place and an important lens into Chicago life [ I ] t was an essential community that... South to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have suggestions to improve this (! Around for a long time—since 1905 former Defender editor and reporter Ethan Michaeli spent years conducting research and for... Newspaper to incorporate a full entertainment section early and mid-20th century, and reading the Defender was founded in,.
Chico And Rita Parents Guide, A Gathering Of Eagles - Youtube, Corey Perry Contract Buyout, The Warriors Movie Reunion, William Daniels 2021, The Adderall Diaries Explained, The Fourth State, The Jinx: Robert Durst, Light Of Day Movie Where To Watch,
