While today is the last day of #BlackHistoryMonth, Black history is every single day of the year. We wanted our last spotlight to focus on the news publications that have provided a platform for Black people to express themselves & advocated for their advancement in society. Our final spotlight goes to #TheBlackPress
In 1827, after growing exhaustion over the negative stories about Black people in the press, a group of free Black men in New York City founded the first African-American newspaper in the United States: The Freedom's Journal. The paper paved the way for other historic Black-owned newspapers such as The North Star, founded in 1847 by famed abolitionist, Frederick Douglass. From there, Black-owned news publications began forming across the U.S. and their rise continued into the 20th century.
From The Chicago Defender, and Pittsburgh Courier, all the way to publications such as EBONY and Jet, the Black Press has allowed the world to see the positive aspects of African American life & provide a platform for Black people to discuss issues relevant to the community.
Learn more about the Black Press and its history here: https://nnpa.org/black-press-history/