Part 13

Among America’s foremost Colored women newspaper writers of today is Frances Berry Coston of Indianapolis, Ind. Her chief work is in feature articles and stories. Having graduated from Berea College; from the Chicago University post-graduate course in literature and languages; from the Pulitzer School of Journalism at Columbia University and from the celebrated Harvard Starred Course in English, (given primarily for authors and journalists) Mrs. Coston is well prepared and fully capable to hold her present position. She is Literary Correspondent for the Indianapolis News, one of the largest and most influential white dailies, not only in the West, but throughout the country. Because of her unusual efficiency and versatile abilities as a writer, she is permitted by the editorial staff to turn out articles on any subject or along any literary line she may desire. Mrs. Coston is given all the work she can do on the literary page of this paper, and in connection with the Book Review Department of the News, she is allowed to make her own selections from the literary editor’s desk.

While still in his teens during the early nineties, Jas. A. Jackson of Bellefonte, Pa., started his newspaper career with the Daily News, a white newspaper published in his home town. Since that time he has developed to such a high standard until today he stands among the most widely known feature short story Colored and white writers of today. His stories have frequently appeared on the magazine pages of the Sunday editions of the New York Sun and the New York Herald. On account of his very wide travels throughout the United States and abroad, he has become acquainted with many of the most prominent newspapermen on both sides of the ocean. With several of these writers and authors he has joined in writing articles for some of America’s most popular magazines as well as noted newspapers published in European countries. In 1912 he wrote a lengthy article, “The Negro At Large” and in 1918 he wrote “The Underlying Cause of Race Riots.” These masterpieces of journalism were greatly quoted by many newspapers and magazines, after the articles had first appeared in the New York Globe. Mr. Jackson’s latest literary step was made when he recently accepted a membership on the editorial staff of “The Billboard”, as Dramatic Reviewer. This is an amusement weekly (white) publication that was founded in New York many years ago and today has a circulation of over two hundred thousand copies a week.

The two daily newspapers run by Colored people in the United States are W. T. Andrews’ Baltimore Herald that is published in Baltimore, Md., and Arthur Craig’s The Daily Star which is published in New York City where it has a daily circulation of over forty thousand copies.

Among the Colored newspapers in the United States, Robt. S. Abbott’s Chicago Defender (World’s Greatest Weekly) is recognized as having the largest circulation. This newspaper recently moved into its own two hundred fifty thousand dollar, three-story, modern building that contains a print shop, four linotype machines, and four-deck Goss straight-line press.

“The late Christopher James Perry was born in Baltimore, Md., September 11, 1854. At an early age he went to Philadelphia, where he obtained employment and became a student of the public night school. In 1884, after some of his writings had been published, he became a special writer for the Sunday Mirror, of Philadelphia, to report the activities of the Negroes of the city. He later started the Philadelphia Tribune, a Negro weekly, which has been published for 36 years. This newspaper is published in the Tribune Building and has a $100,000 plant of which Mr. Perry was the sole owner.” Quoted from the Sept. 1921 issue of the Crisis:

Another one of the best nationally known Colored papers that is doing business in its own establishment that is completely equipped with the most modern newspaper machinery is Fred R. Moore’s New York Age. This paper is one of the oldest and most popular in the field, and is also a weekly issue. There are other Colored newspapers throughout the country that are in their own modernly equipped establishments.

Those named in the following listed cities are just a few of the Colored newspapers that, on account of their up-to-date instructive-news, all round influence for encouragement and inspiration and constant race loyalty, have won race leading reputations of the first quality for themselves and their editors not only in their own cities but throughout and beyond their own states:

Atlanta, Ga. B. J. Davis’ Atlanta Independent, A. Grace’s Atlanta Post, Chas. Howell’s Atlanta Constitution.

Atlantic City, N. J. J. A. Lightfoot’s Atlantic City Advocate, Harry Jackson’s Atlantic City News.

Augusta, Ga. Editor Simmons’ The Echo.

Baltimore, Md. A. J. Murphy’s The Afro-American, W. T. Andrews’ The Daily Herald.

Birmingham, Ala. O. W. Adams’ Birmingham Reporter.

Boley, Oklahoma. G. W. Perry’s Boley Progress, A. L. Moore’s Boley News.

Boston, Mass. Wm. M. Trotter’s Boston Guardian, Wm. Murray’s Boston Chronicle.

Buffalo, N. Y. E. O. Brown’s Buffalo American.

Brooklyn, N. Y. Wm. McKinney’s Brooklyn Informer.

Camden, N. J. Marcus Mann’s Camden Tribune.

Charleston, S. C. D. J. Jenkins’ Charleston Messenger.

Charlotte, N. C. J. W. Crocketh’s Progressive Messenger.

Chattanooga, Tenn. J. J. Oldfield’s Chattanooga Defender.

Chicago, Ill. R. S. Abbott’s Chicago Defender. W. C. Linton’s The Whip, J. A. Taylor’s The Broad Ax, W. D. Neighbors’ The Chicago Idea.

Cincinnati, O. W. P. Dabney’s The Union, Hardin Tolbeat’s Cincinnati Journal.

Cleveland, O. H. C. Smith’s Cleveland Gazette, A. Forte’s Cleveland Advocate.

Columbia, S. C. J. A. Roach’s Southern Indicator.

Columbus, O. J. W. Carter’s Ohio State Monitor.

Danville, Va. H. T. Houston’s The Headlight.

Dayton, O. J. A. Rives’ Dayton Forum.

Denver, Col. J. D. Rivers’ Denver Statesman, C. S. Muse’s The Denver Star.

Des Moines, Iowa. E. Mash’s The Bystander.

Detroit, Mich. W. P. Kemp’s Detroit Leader. The Compass.

Dallas, Texas. J. R. Jordan’s The Dallas Express.

Fort Worth, Texas. J. I. Dotson’s Fort Worth Hornet.

Gary, Ind. J. D. Cooke’s Nat’l Defender & Sun.

Greenville, S. C. C. C. Clarkson’s Southern Enterprise.

Harrisburgh, Pa. F. L. Jefferson’s The Advocate Verdict.

Helena, Ark. H. W. Hallaway’s Interstate Reporter.

Houston, Texas. C. F. Richardson’s Houston Informer.

Indianapolis, Ind. G. L. Knox’s The Freeman, J. D. Howard’s The Ledger, A. E. Manning’s The Indianapolis World.

Jackson, Miss. J. W. Hair’s The Farmer.

Jacksonville, Fla. J. A. Simm’s The Florida Sentinel.

Kansas City, Kan. T. Kennedy’s Kansas City Advocate.

Kansas City, Mo. C. A. Franklin’s Kansas City Call, N. C. Crews’ The Sun.

Little Rock, Ark. L. N. Porter’s Arkansas Banner.

Los Angeles, Cal. F. M. Roberts’ The New Age, C. A. Spear’s The Eagle.

Louisville, Ky. I. W. Cole’s Louisville Leader, Wm. Warley’s Louisville News.

Lexington, Ky. E. D. Willis’ Lexington Weekly News.

Madison, Wis. J. A. Josey’s Wisconsin Weekly Blade.

Memphis, Tenn. S. W. Broome’s The Memphis Times, J. E. Washington’s The Western World Reporter.

Minneapolis, Minn. R. B. Montgomery’s The National Advocate.

Mobile, Ala. George U. Cloud’s Mobile Forum.

Montgomery, Ala. J. E. McCall’s The Emancipator.

Mound Bayou, Miss. W. M. Lott’s National News Digest.

Muskogee, Okla. W. H. Twine’s Muskogee Cimeter.

Nashville, Tenn. H. A. Boyd’s Nashville Globe, W. A. Water’s Peoples Advocate, Bessie P. Rhoda’s Nashville Eye.

Newark, N. J. Editor Pollard’s New Jersey Observer.

New Orleans, La. Jas. E. Gayle’s The Vindicator.

Newport News, Va. M. N. Lewis’ The Star.

New York City, N. Y. J. H. Anderson’s Amsterdam News, Geo. Harris’ New York News, W. H. Ferris’ The Negro World, The Daily Star.

Norfolk, Va. P. B. Young’s Journal & Guide.

Oakland, Cal. E. Marshall’s California Voice.

Oklahoma City, Okla. R. Dungee’s The Black Dispatch.

Omaha, Neb. J. Albert Williams’ The Monitor.

Phila., Pa. Chris Perry’s Philadelphia Tribune, J. W. Parks’ Philadelphia American, Arthur Lynch’s Public Journal.

Phoenix, Ariz. A. R. Smith’s Phoenix Tribune.

Pine Bluff, Ark. J. H. Harrison’s The Monitor.

Pittsburg, Pa. Robt. L. Vann’s Pittsburg Courier.

Portland, Org. E. D. Cannady’s The Advocate.

Portsmouth, Va. C. C. Summerville’s The Virgil.

Princeton, N. J. D. La Tourette’s Princeton Packet.

Providence, R. I. F. R. Purnell’s The Advance.

Raleigh, N. C. L. M. Cheeks’ Raleigh Independent.

Richmond, Va. John Mitchell’s Richmond Planet, Maggie L. Walker’s St. Lukes Herald.

Sacramento, Cal. J. M. Collins’ Western Review.

San Antonio, Tex. G. W. Bouldin’s San Antonio Inquirer.

San Francisco, Cal. J. L. Derrick’s Western Outlook, G. E. Watkins’ Western Appeal.

Savannah, Ga. S. C. Johnson’s Savannah Tribune.

Seattle, Wash. S. P. BeDow’s The Searchlight.

Shreveport, La. M. L. Collins’ Shreveport, Sun, Samuel and Carter’s News-Enterprise.

St. Louis, Mo. J. E. Mitchell’s St. Louis Argus, C. K. Robinson’s Independent Clarion.

St. Paul, Minn. J. Q. Adams’ The Appeal.

Tampa, Fla. M. D. Potter’s Tampa Bulletin.

Terre Haute, Ind. C. E. Rochelle’s Emancipator.

Washington, D.C. J. Finley Wilson’s The Washington Eagle, Mrs. Eva A. Chase’s The Washington Bee, D. Eugene Taylor’s Washington American, F. M. Murray’s Washington Tribune.

Wichita, Kan. W. A. Betts’ Wichita Protest, H. T. Simms’ The New Star.

Wilmington, Del. Editor Nelson’s The Advocate.

Religious Papers

Among the three score and more religious Colored newspapers in America, R. E. Jones’ Southwestern Christian Advocate of New Orleans, La., R. R. Wright’s Christian Recorder of Phila., Pa. J. D. Crenshaw’s National Baptist Voice of Nashville, Tenn. and N. S. Epps’ Baptist Herald of New York City are some of the most nationally known and widely circulated.

National Negro Press Association

The National Negro Press Association, of which J. Finley Wilson is president, is an organization among Colored newspaper editors for the purpose of uniting them in mutual friendships and understanding. At their annual meetings they become better acquainted and exchange their different ideas in order to become better news informers and stronger champions through their organs for justice to their race.

The Associated Negro Press

Although not yet three years old, the Associated Negro Press, of which N. D. Brascher of Chicago, Ill., is editor-in-chief, is already exerting a wonderful influence in the field of Negro journalism and is doing excellent work in so efficiently gathering and so promptly releasing to its newspaper members the most vital current events of the day.

The noble and tireless efforts of the Colored editors, in trying to help convert the prejudiced white people of the United States from their unjust hatred, discrimination and cruelties upon the Negro race just because of its progress, are each day being more ably backed up by the American white press. As the writer has said in the chapter dealing with church work, white papers throughout the country are increasing in numbers in making their editorials stronger and stronger in justly denouncing mob rule, its results and future reaction upon these United States. This sentiment in the white press is increasing and spreading so rapidly that even white papers in different parts of the South are fearlessly joining this movement for right.

In the summer of 1918 a Southern paper, the San Antonio Express of Texas set aside a fund of one hundred thousand dollars to be used in helping to put down lynching in the United States. This money is to be used to pay rewards for the arrest and conviction of all persons taking part in lynchings. Other Texas white papers, the Houston Post and the Austin American have on different occasions come out strongly in contending for fair treatment and justice to the Colored people.

With reference to the jury which heard the evidence in the peonage trial of John S. Williams, Georgia white planter, accused of killing eleven Negro farm hands, and on trial for the slaying of one of them, and which jury brought in a verdict of guilty, with life sentence, but urged “mercy” on the court; the following editorial by Thomas W. Loveless appeared in a Georgia white paper, The Enquirer-Sun, according to an article that came out in the April 16, 1921 issue of the Chicago Defender:

“A Newton county jury has tried John S. Williams, the Jasper county multimurderer, found him guilty, and recommended him to the mercy of the court. By what process of reasoning the jury arrived at this form of verdict is difficult if not well nigh impossible to imagine. This is, if we try to analyze it by any ‘process of reasoning’, but if we brush aside all subterfuge and hypocrisy and tell the plain truth about it, the verdict--as great a travesty of justice as it is--is not so difficult to understand.

“And this plain truth is we have not yet reached that stage of grace, or of justice, in Georgia where we ‘hang a white man for killing a nigger’, as the expression is and has long been ...

“However, the owner and operator of this Georgia ‘murder farm’ escapes with his own life--a penitentiary sentence--and perhaps a pardon later on if he lives long enough and his family can bring enough influence to bear.

“Thus do we again ‘advertise Georgia.’ God help her.”

Referring to the recent Tulsa, Oklahoma race riot, in which the mob destroyed forty-four blocks of Negro property, the following extracts are parts of an editorial that appeared in the July 7, 1921 issue of a white newspaper, The National Tribune of Washington, D.C.

“The Burning Disgrace of ‘Race Riot’”.

“As we have said before, there is a strong element in Tulsa coming from the renegade whites who fled out of the reach of justice to start a so-called “race riot” on any pretext. The more that the situation is studied the less provocation there was for such an outrage. The absurdity of the white girl’s story that she had been insulted by a negro boy was apparent on its face. It is said her reputation was not of the best and no one apparently stopped to think of the impossibility of such an outrage in the most public place in a city of 100,000 people. The elevator which she was running was in the most conspicuous part of the building.

“The riot was made possible by the worthlessness of the police and judiciary. As usual in a place of such sudden rise to greatness as Tulsa, the vicious elements have entirely too large a control of the municipal authorities. The houses of ill-fame, gambling joints, bootleggers, and other criminals have too much to say as to the selection of officials. For 14 years Tulsa has been in the absolute control of this element. The better class of people were too much absorbed making the easy money possible there to bother themselves and give up any time to politics.

“Quite a number of negroes have made fortunes in Tulsa and they became the special objects of the mob. One colored man owned and operated a printing plant with $25,000 of printing machinery in it. It was assailed and burned to the ground by a mob led by a man who had been working a linotype at a salary of $48 a week. Of course, this linotype man professed to be a “perfect Southern gentleman” and superior to a negro, although he degraded himself by working for him at good wages. Dr. A. C. Jackson, a colored physician, who was called by competent authorities the most able negro surgeon in America, was marked for the wrath of the mob because he owned $100,000 worth of property. He tried to fight against the mob and surrendered under a pledge of protection, but was murdered on his way to jail.” ...

The above are but a few of the many such editorials that have recently come under the notice of the writer, and if white editors who run out such editorials could just mingle among the masses of both races where their papers are read and listen to the comments being made, they would be amazed to note the influence for good that such writings are exerting. And if now in this critical period of racial unrest, the majority of white editors through this land together with the white clergy will take such stands for law and order, the race prejudice in this country will be checked before its barbarism pulls the United States down, down, down to the very lowest and most despised race among all nations and countries--civilized and uncivilized. For this unjust public sentiment can only be checked and changed by the right kind of influences starting from the white pulpits and printing rooms. The frequent clashings of swords cannot force about such a change, but the constant exchange of reasoning sermons and editorials can persuade such a change to come about.

If it is the fear of losing their congregations and churches that prevents so many white ministers from taking such a stand; then the way to be outspoken (instead of silent) against mob sins and crimes, and still keep “Mrs. Wolf” from grinning at them through their parsonage windows, is for all of them to become outspoken. And as their people must continue to have churches and be preached to, those ministers would still hold their pulpits as they would then be the only kind of preachers (outspoken) to listen to.

If it is the fear of losing their subscribers and seeing their papers go into the waste baskets that keeps so many white editors from taking such a rightful stand; then the way to keep and increase their subscribers and at the same time keep “Mr. Wolf” from sniffing around the kitchen doors, is for all editors to begin to use the “Golden (printer’s guiding) Rule” to measure out their editorials on the Race questions. As their people must have newspapers in order to learn what is going on in the world, rather than get no papers they would buy the only kind (the fair and just) that would then be printed. And in using the above methods in bringing about brotherhood and Christlike feelings between the two races, no one would be the loser, but all would be the gainers.

As another witness and proof that courageously standing for right and fearlessly denouncing wrong through their convincing columns does not weaken but eventually strengthens and increases the influence of such white periodicals; the writer quotes below in part an editorial that appeared in the September 14, 1921 issue of The Nation, a world-famed white magazine that has been successfully published in New York for over fifty years during all which time its publication has continued to grow and spread as the results of just such Golden Rule editorials as the following:

“The daughter of Mr. J. B. Webb, “prominent in financial and social circles,” chose to marry a groom, her sister having previously married a policeman.... The newspapers sent around special reporters in battalions. Then up spoke Mr. Webb: “It’s rotten, that’s what I call it--rotten! To tear a person’s life to shreds like this, and bring up for the public eye the affairs of one poor little girl.” To which we say a hearty Amen. But more rotten than this outrageous violation of individual rights by the press is the careless or malicious zest with which certain papers, especially in the South, publish stories from depraved or irresponsible white women accusing some black man of a more or less grave offense against them. Every newspaperman knows that just such a story started the Tulsa riots, as well as those in Washington and in Omaha. Yet here we find on the front pages of the Memphis Commercial Appeal two circumstantial stories of attack by Negroes on white women. Both of them were false, as the newspaper itself admitted less conspicuously next day. This sort of thing is all too common and not every city has a paper as bold as the Memphis Press in denouncing it. It is high time for a renascence of ethical standards in newsgathering.”

In Magazine Writing

Just as Dr. W. E. B. DuBois is recognized as the foremost magazine writer in the Negro race, not only in America but throughout the world; it is said he has also made The Crisis Magazine, of which he is editor-in-chief, the widest read Colored magazine of its kind not only in the Western but also in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is estimated that this magazine is read each month by nearly four hundred thousand people.

Among lettered Colored women, Miss Jessie R. Fauset, a graduate of Cornell where she was made a member of the Phi Betta Kappa Fraternity, later becoming a teacher of French and Latin in the M Street High School, Washington, D.C., and at present Literary Editor of the The Crisis Magazine, is today recognized by the best critics as a leading and most versatile magazine writer.

Such wise, timely and meatful articles as “Race Consciousness,” “Heart Talk,” “Representation of the American Woman,” “World Brotherhood,” “Oil Upon Troubled Waters” are among the many writings that have stamped Miss H. Georgiana Whyte, editor of the Women’s Department of The Favorite Magazine, as one of the most forceful and helpful magazine writers among Colored women.

Aside from long ago proving himself as one of the ablest Colored newspaper editors in the country, Attorney Robt. L. Vann of Pittsburgh, Pa., has shown by the high quality of his Competitor Magazine that as a writer in this field he is second to none.

The cheerfulness and life that Editor Fenton Johnson puts into his Favorite Magazine explains why it is having such a rapid growth and has become a sure-enough favorite with the Colored readers, not only in its home city of Chicago but throughout the country.

The inspiring snap that Editor Willis N. Huggins throws into his UpReach Magazine accounts for it being so popular, especially with the younger and progressive element among the Colored readers who are always benefited by such well chosen and written articles.

The exceptional ability to so vividly portray human nature from the viewpoints of both races when building up stories is one of the secrets that is the cause of Editor Aubery Bowser’s Rainbow Magazine being sought after by all readers who want to learn and understand the inside life situations as they really exist when the two races come in close contact.

Except those people who personally go through the tedious processes of a similar work, no one is able to fully realize and appreciate the value of the up-to-date culled, methodically complied, instructively built-up and tastily arranged matter that Miss Madeline G. Allison presents each month in The Crisis: under the heading “The Horizon.” In monthly compiling the tremendous new store of varied and far-reaching data her department contains, Miss Allison is doing a grand and unique piece of literary writing the workmanship and quality of which any magazine of any race would be proud to carry.

As the results of the deep thinking and outspoken opinions that get down to the very core and essence of the subjects handled by them, Editors Owens and Chandler, through the medium of their magazine The Messenger are fast mounting top rungs in their profession and at the same time attracting the wide attentions of well-versed and seasoned newspaper and magazine people in both races.

Although it has not been founded very long, the Method Magazine, edited by F. H. Hallion, of Richmond, Va., is attracting wide attention on account of its instructive and helpful articles pertaining to business relations in their many fields of activities.