James Earl Jones brings Frederick Douglass’s searing 1852 oration “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” to life—forcing a reflection on liberty, hypocrisy, and the ongoing struggle for justice. A must-watch for #FourthOfJuly and everyday.
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On this day in 1940, Wilma Rudolph was born in Tennessee. Once told she’d never walk again, she became the first American woman to win 3 gold medals in a single Olympics (1960). A champion on the track and for civil rights.
Juneteenth is not just about the end of slavery—it's about the enduring struggle for Black liberation and the celebration of Black resilience, joy, and culture.
Honor the past. Celebrate the present. Work toward a freer future.
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Today we celebrate Juneteenth, a day to reflect on freedom delayed—and freedom fought for. On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were finally told they were free—over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
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Why do these books matter?
Because the Black Press has always been more than just news—it's been resistance, education, and community. These authors preserve that legacy.
Have you read any of these? Got others to recommend? Drop them below and let’s keep the history alive.
6/ A History of the Black Press by Pride & Wilson
A go-to academic text. Great for classrooms or deep personal study, covering from Freedom's Journal (1827) to the modern Black Press landscape.
5/ News for All the People by Juan González & Joseph Torres
A sweeping media history. While not only about Black journalism, it dives deep into how Black newspapers fought exclusion and built independent media power.
4/ Race News by Fred Carroll
This book highlights Black journalists' role in shaping public opinion, particularly during the 20th century’s most pivotal civil rights battles.
3/ The African American Newspaper: Voice of Freedom by Patrick S. Washburn
This scholarly yet accessible book traces the political and cultural influence of Black papers—from abolition to the civil rights era.
2/ The Afro-American Press and Its Editors by Irvine Garland Penn (1891)
One of the first histories written by and for Black journalists. A powerful primary source documenting editors and papers often left out of mainstream history.
1/ The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords by Rodger Streitmatter
A highly readable intro to the rise and resilience of Black newspapers from the 19th century onward. A perfect starting point to understand why the Black Press matters.
🧵THREAD: Essential Books on the Black Press
The Black Press has long been a powerful voice for truth, justice, and self-determination in Black communities. Here are some essential reads that explore its rich legacy and ongoing impact.
🏳️🌈📚 Founded in 1988, BLK magazine became a groundbreaking voice for Black LGBTQ people during the AIDS crisis—documenting joy, struggle, and resistance when few others would. Its legacy is a testament to the power of telling our own stories. #Pride #BlackLGBTQHistory #BLKmagazine
Wichita Times January 23, 1975
Born on May 26, 1926, Miles Davis transcended the barriers of segregation to revolutionize American music. His trumpet wasn't just an instrument—it was a voice of defiance, innovation, and Black excellence. From Kind of Blue to Bitches Brew, his legacy endures.
The Black Press has long been a pillar of truth, resistance, and empowerment—telling our stories when others wouldn’t. It’s not just history, it’s a lifeline for justice and visibility. 📰✊🏾
The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, founded in 1925 by A. Philip Randolph, was the first Black-led labor union to gain a collective bargaining agreement. It not only fought for fair wages but helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement.✊🏾🛤️ #LaborHistory
On April 22, the African American newspaper, the Christian Recorder, published the following memorial to the late President.
On April 14 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC. Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, shot Lincoln in the head during the play, Our American Cousin. the president died the following morning at the Petersen House.
Wells-Barnett would become most well known for her tireless efforts in her anti-lynching campaign following the 1892 lynching of Calvin McDowell, William Stewart, and Thomas Henry Moss Sr. co-owner of The People’s Grocery.
On this day in 1931, educator, journalist, and early civil rights leader Ida B Wells-Barnett passed away at the age of 68. Wells, born enslaved in 1862, Wells-Barnett would begin her activist career after moving to Memphis after refusing to vacate her seat on a train in 1883 and again in 1884.
Following the June 1963 assassination of her husband, Evers-Williams would continue the fight for equal rights as well as lead the crusade to bring her husband’s killer to justice. In August of 63, The New York Amsterdam News would write a feature on Evers-Williams titled “The Bravest Woman.”2 of 2
On this day in 1933, Civil Rights activist and journalist Myrlie Evers-Williams was born. Evers-Williams got her start during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s when she and her husband, Medgar Evers, opened and managed the first NAACP office in the state of Mississippi. 1 of 2
In 1926 Carter G. Woodson began Negro History Week to promote and celebrate Black history. In 1976, Negro History Week became Black History Month.
Yesterday, we honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In April 1963, King wrote his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail, detailing people's moral responsibility to break unjust laws. In August of that year, Ebony Magazine ran a piece on what they called a modern classic.
Born on January 17, 1942, Muhammad Ali was a professional boxer and social activist. In April of 1967 Ali was stripped of his Heavyweight title and boxing license for refusing to step forward during his scheduled induction into the US Armed Forces.
Known for her powerful vocals and large frame, Willie Mae Thornton, affectionately known as Big Momma, was born on December 11, 1926, in Ariton, Alabama. Thorton's music was also highly influential in the development of rock and roll.
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Black Beyond data promo flyer for Chris Dancy talk on November 29th. Link to register is bit.ly/BBD-Reads
Excited to speak with the Black Beyond Data reading group at Noon today! Register for the talk (and other great talks and discussions) at bit.ly/BBD-Reads
...And in the BLACK PRESS, the negro press, we did get married. They showed us our babies when born. They showed us graduating. They showed our PhDs."
Vernon Jarrett ~THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS
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