The African American Press: A History of News Coverage During National Crises, With Special Reference to Four Black Newspapers, 1827-1965 [Hardcover]

Charles A. Simmons (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 078640387X | ISBN-13: 978-0786403875 | Publication Date: December 1997

This work examines both predominately black newspapers in general and four in particular-the Chicago Defender, the Pittsburgh Courier, the Black Dispatch (Oklahoma City), and the Jackson (Mississippi) Advocate-and their coverage of national events. The beginnings of the black press are detailed, focusing on how they reported the anti-slavery movement, the Civil War and the Reconstruction era. Their coverage of the migration of blacks to the industrial north in the early twentieth century and World War I are next examined, followed by the black press response to World War II and the civil rights movement. How the individual editorial policies affected the newspaper's coverage is also fully explored.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Of the 4,000 or so black-owned newspapers that Simmons informs us have existed in American history, he selects four well-known publications for detailed analysis. They are the Chicago Defender, Pittsburgh Courier, (Oklahoma City) Black Dispatch, and Jackson (Mississippi) Advocate. Following a summary of the black press in the abolition and Reconstruction eras, the author jumps into the four papers' editorial philosophies in the 1910s and 1920s, the start of the great northward migration, instigated, some say, by the Defender. Throughout the history of black journalism, argues Simmons, the large question was what balance should be struck between militancy and accommodation, and what balance between sensationalism and straight news. During World War II, the uncompromising Courier became the top-circulating newspaper. Simmons concludes with the four papers' reporting of the civil rights movement, in which the Advocate comes off poorly, having possibly been bribed into advocacy for the segregationist status quo. A pricey book, but one covering an important aspect of black history. Gilbert Taylor

Review

"detailed...covers an important aspect of black history" -- Booklist/RBB

"looks at the editorial philosophy of the African American press.... A useful purchase" -- Choice

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 199 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078640387X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786403875
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,154,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The African American Press, December 31, 2009

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D. Sands (Los Angeles, CA.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The African American Press: A History of News Coverage During National Crises, With Special Reference to Four Black Newspapers, 1827-1965 (Hardcover)

I bought it for two reasons. My uncle was one of the Editor's of the Pittsburgh Courier in the thirties and fouties and I thought it might be helpful with my genealogy. D. Sands