Celebrating the rich history of Black journalists

To fully consider the scope of journalism, it is important to recognize the many Black journalists throughout history who have paved the way for past and future Black journalists. Black Journalists helps empower and inspire not only those in the Black community, but anyone interested in pursuing a career in journalism. The history of Black journalists is full of struggles, but also successes in breaking down barriers toward a more diverse media presence.

Black journalism in the United States has a long history, dating back 197 years to the founding of Freedom’s Journal, America’s first black-owned and operated newspaper. According to Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the paper provided local, national, and international news and “aimed to improve conditions for the more than 300,000 newly freed black men and women living in the North.” Additionally, he promoted the accomplishments of black Americans through biographies of prominent black figures.

Another prominent newspaper of the same century was the North Star, founded by Frederick Douglass. The paper’s title refers to the brightest star in the sky that people fleeing slavery used to navigate their way north, and according to Library of Congress records, Douglass said: Freedom is a star of hope. The North Star newspaper would also be a beacon of hope, as Douglass presented ideas in it that promoted the abolition of slavery, the progress and equality of African Americans, and women’s rights.

The next century would see many more prominent black journalists, including Simeon Booker Jr., the Washington Post’s first black reporter. The New York Times reported that he “conducted pioneering reporting on racial injustice and the civil rights struggle.” Some of his most notable accomplishments include the Emmett Till murder case and the bus boycott initiated by Rosa Parks. Additionally, the New York Times said, “He was the only journalist on the original Freedom Riders, who rode a bus from Atlanta to Birmingham to protest racial discrimination in southern transportation, encountering extreme violence at several parts of the way.” “I was exposed to it,” he said. He continued to cover the Black experience until his retirement in 2007, after 65 years in journalism.

In 1975, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) was founded to continue promoting diversity in newsrooms and supporting Black journalists. NABJ is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “providing innovative training, career advancement opportunities, and advocacy to Black journalists and media professionals around the world.” To this end, scholarships, internships, and fellowships are offered through NABJ, a year-long program that brings together thousands of students and those in the journalism industry to discuss the cultural and historical impact of the Black community. The next tournament is being held. NABJ also annually honors notable journalists who are inducted into the NABJ Hall of Fame, including Simeon Booker Jr. in 2013. This year, he has seven people inducted into the Hall of Fame from various forms of media. One of the inductees was Randall Pinkston, who has witnessed and reported on major events in recent history. According to NABJ, “Pinkston was a White House correspondent covering President George Herbert Walker Bush” and “the first to report on the search for Osama bin Laden in Tora Bora Afghanistan.” He was also one of the journalists.

All of this makes it clear that the impact of Black journalism continues to grow across all forms of media. The future of media is being driven to be less one-sided, more diverse and exploring all perspectives.