COLORED EDITORS AND JOURNALISTS.
There are published in the United States to-day between 250 and 300
newspapers and periodicals devoted to the interests of the colored
people. The prices of these, compared with the many other articles of
luxury for which they pay so freely, are ridiculously low; and yet no
field of labor for educated men and women of the race is so perplexing
and encumbered with so many difficulties.
But among those who have made a success of journalism are the men and
women mentioned in this chapter.
T. THOMAS FORTUNE.
Mr. T. Thomas Fortune, the best-known journalist, both among white and
colored people, is really the pioneer among the colored journalists
of the United States. He has labored as an editorial writer on the
_New York Sun_ for a great many years, and he is the only colored man
whose opinions on important questions are published at length in white
newspapers. His work on the _Times-Herald_, of Chicago, Ill., and other
great dailies, has been the most creditable, and has been the subject
of more liberal discussion than that of any other writer.
[Illustration: T. THOMAS FORTUNE.]
Mr. Fortune's stand for right and justice to all classes of American
citizens has endeared him to every man and woman who appreciates fair
play. He is in Negro journalism what Charles Dana, Esq., is to white
journalism--a leader. He has been publishing the New York _Age_ for a
great many years, and that paper is recognized to-day as the official
organ of the colored people. Wherever Mr. Fortune goes he is always
sought out by the leading newspaper and professional men and accorded
a royal reception. I regard him as the most valuable man in his line
living to-day.
E. E. COOPER.
Edward Elder Cooper is a man of Southern birth, full of vim, energy,
enterprise and pluck. He is the founder of the Indianapolis _Freeman_,
which attained a national reputation under his skilful management some
years ago. He removed to Washington, D.C., in 1892, after disposing
of his interest in the _Freeman_, where he established the _Colored
American_, an eight-page illustrated newspaper. Mr. Cooper's strong
point is as a business manager. He has had phenomenal success with
the _Colored American_, among the solid business men of Washington,
who know it as a safe, reliable and useful advertising medium. One
of the great features of the _Colored American_ is its portraits of
eminent Negroes, which it publishes from week to week; this feature
is a big card for the paper and is greatly appreciated by the masses.
The _Colored American_ is national in its scope and work and publishes
the news from every section of the country. A competent force of Negro
compositors and correspondents, which include some of the best writers
among the race, make the _Colored American_ a very desirable and
welcome weekly visitor in the homes of thousands of the best people of
both races.
[Illustration: E. E. COOPER.]
Mr. Cooper is comparatively a young man; he is not yet forty. He has,
through his paper, popularized more struggling Negroes, who have
been hitherto unknown, than any other publisher of a race paper. The
subscription to the _Colored American_ is two dollars per annum. It is
published at 829 7th street N. W., Washington, D. C., in one of the
most central business locations in the capital city. In connection with
his newspaper, Mr. Cooper keeps on sale at his counting-room all of
the most prominent Negro journals published, and has also undertaken
to cater to the wants of those desiring Negro literature. All the
latest books, pamphlets, public addresses of colored authors, writers
and speakers can be obtained from the _Colored American_ office on
application. And there are many good books by Negro authors and by
others friendly to the race which may be found on his shelves. This
paper recently issued a mammoth edition of 50,000 copies which is said
to be the largest edition ever issued by a Negro publisher. Mr. Cooper
is popular with the members of the profession, and never hesitates to
lend a helping hand to his struggling brethren of the press. He is a
genial, open-hearted, open-handed, rollicking good fellow, who makes
friends easily and who knows how to keep them. He exercises a sort of
hypnotic influence over prospective advertisers who generally come his
way. The _American_ is strictly a newspaper in the broader sense of
the term _newspaper_, and is conscientiously devoted to the moral and
material uplifting and advancement of the race whose necessities have
called it into being. He deserves great credit for his courage and his
unyielding faith in the possibilities of Negro journalism; and he will,
in the future, command the admiration of his race, which has now but
small appreciation for the sacrifices, and self-denial, of the brave
men who fight its battles through the _media_ of the Negro press of the
country.
PROF. W. S. SCARBOROUGH, LL. D.
[Illustration: PROF. W. S. SCARBOROUGH, LL. D.]
Prof. Scarborough is the most distinguished scholar of the race to-day.
His experience in teaching has been large and varied. Clear in
explanation, polished in language and bearing, profound in scholarship,
always the perfect gentleman, he has impressed himself upon many
young minds as few young men have been able to do. Add to these
characteristics a most laudable ambition, an unflinching steadfastness
of purpose, unwavering uprightness and straightforward devotion to
principle, and we find wherein lies the power which has enabled him
to attain the heights and win the fame which is undeniably his. But
his has not been the mere routine of a teacher's life; he has been an
incessant student, an indefatigable worker. During 1880 he prepared
his "First Lessons in Greek," which was published by A. S. Barnes &
Co., in June, 1881. This book, the first of the kind ever written by
a colored man, has received the highest encomiums from the press,
while its merits have been recognized and acknowledged by some of the
finest scholars in the land. It has also received the most practical
recognition--that of adoption--by schools and colleges, both white and
colored.
Mr. Scarborough is a regular contributor to _Harper's Magazine_, the
_Forum_, and the _North American Review_.
REV. H. T. JOHNSON, D. D., PH. D.
Rev. Henry Theodore Johnson was born at Georgetown, S. C., October 10,
1857.
His early life was spent in the public schools of his native town until
his fourteenth year.
He has attended the State Normal School at Columbia, the South Carolina
University, Howard University at Washington, D. C., and Lincoln
University in Pennsylvania.
His "Elements of Psychic Philosophy," a clear cut but brief treatise
on mental science, and his "How to Get On," an admirably written and
highly instructive series of essays, are two of his books. Having been
called to the chair of mental and moral philosophy by the trustees of
Allen University in South Carolina, he taught but a short time, when he
resigned for a more inviting field in Tennessee. Under the auspices of
his church, he here founded the institution known as Slater College.
In connection with his school presidency, he was presiding elder of a
large district for three years.
[Illustration: REV. H. T. JOHNSON, D. D., PH. D.]
His "Divine Logos" was written and published in 1891. As a unique
Christological treatise it was spoken of in the highest terms. Some
idea of the recognized ability of Dr. Johnson is indicated by his
having been clothed with the editorial responsibility of the leading
organ of his church and race at the session of the General Conference
in May, 1892. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy was conferred on him
by Paul Quinn College, while that of Doctor of Divinity was granted
by Wilberforce University. Dr. Johnson has already exerted an abiding
influence upon his race.
REV. J. W. SMITH.
Rev. J. W. Smith was elected at the last General Conference of the
A. M. E. Zion Church, which met in Mobile, Ala., in May, 1896, as
the Editor of the _Star of Zion_, which is the official organ of the
church. As a writer Mr. Smith is an able one, and I am sure that the
general feeling is that a wiser choice could not have been made. The
paper is published at Charlotte, N. C., where the Zion Church owns a
splendid property known as their publishing department. I have known
Rev. Smith for years, and I am glad for the good of the connection that
he has been chosen as their editor.
He succeeds Rev. Geo. W. Clinton, D. D., who was elected to the
Bishopric at the last General Conference.
WM. H. STEWART.
Wm. H. Stewart is a native of Louisville, Ky. He has always taken an
active part in all public affairs, and is an active member of the
Baptist Church. He is the superintendent of the Sunday-school of the
5th Street Baptist Church and leader of its choir, which is one of the
best in the country. Mr. Stewart is chairman of Board of Trustees of
State University, located in Louisville, Ky., and is secretary of the
National Baptist Convention; he has held this position for many years.
[Illustration: WM. H. STEWART.]
Mr. Stewart also has charge of the Sunday-school work of the State, for
the American Baptist Publication Society of Philadelphia. He is manager
and publisher of the _American Baptist_, which is the oldest and most
extensively circulated newspaper in the denomination. Mr. Stewart
holds other useful places, where he is helpful to the race. He owns a
beautiful home, and has some very refined and cultured children. His
daughters, at least two of them, have taken a course in art, and they
paint beautifully; most of the fine paintings in his home were painted
by them.
L. J. COPPIN.
[Illustration: REV. L. J. COPPIN, D. D.]
Rev. L. J. Coppin, D. D., who for eight years was editor of the _A.
M. E. Church Review_, is a bright literary light. He is the author
of quite a number of interesting books. The following are the titles
of some of them: "The Sunday School: Its Work and How to Do it;"
"In Memoriam: Katie S. Campbell Beckett;" "The Relation of Baptized
Children to the Church," and a "Key to Scriptural Interpretation."
Rev. Coppin is a graduate of the P. E. Divinity School of Philadelphia,
Pa. He was elected editor of the _A. M. E. Church Review_ in May, 1888,
and re-elected in 1892. The work has been admirably done under his
editorship. He now gives way to his successor, Prof. H. T. Kealing, B.
S., A. M., who was elected at the last General Conference.
WILLIAM H. ANDERSON.
Mr. Anderson is one of the bright literary lights among the young men
of the race. His work, with that of Mr. Stowers, a novel, entitled
"Appointed," is a very creditable showing of his ability as a writer.
His first work as a writer was done when he was employed as the mailing
clerk of the _Detroit Free Press_. After his graduation from the city
high school he entered the employ of Newcomb, Endicott & Co., to carry
parcels. He has been working for this company ever since. He now has
charge of the books and credits for the carpet department of Newcomb,
Endicott & Co. No goods come into his department unless checked by him
and none go out without his signature.
[Illustration: W. H. ANDERSON.]
Mr. Anderson's editorials, written for the _Plaindealer_ on social and
economic questions, were read with great interest. He was also a part
owner of the _Plaindealer_, which was a magnificent paper.
J. E. BRUCE.
John Edward Bruce (_Bruce Grit_) was born a slave in the State of
Maryland. He attended school in the District of Columbia, at the close
of the war, for a period of three months, when he became a student in
the University of Adversity, where he acquired distinction as a racy
and trenchant writer. He has been a regular contributor to newspapers
and special correspondent since 1874.
[Illustration: J. E. BRUCE.]
He is the author of a well-written pamphlet, entitled "The Blot on
the Escutcheon," which treats of the lynching evil in the South.
Has written numerous short stories for race papers, more or less
meritorious, and which show him to have the journalistic instinct.
He has a larger acquaintance with public men than any other Negro
newspaper correspondent in America, and has been the recipient of
hundreds of autograph letters from eminent men concerning public
questions affecting the Negro. Among them are such distinguished men
as Wm. E. Gladstone, Roscoe Conkling, Levi P. Morton, John A. Logan,
Geo. F. Hoar, J. S. Clarkson, A. W. Tourgee and many others. Mr. Bruce
has possibly as fine a collection of scrap-books as one would wish
to see. Among them (there are three of them) is one which contains
over a thousand columns of matter from his own pen, the result of his
labors since 1874. Another contains important correspondence valued
for the autographs of the distinguished writers; in this scrap-book
is contained a letter from Mr. Gladstone, with his autograph, the
autographs of Grover Cleveland, Chester A. Arthur, Cardinal Gibbons,
Baron H. Von Lindern, of Amsterdam, Holland, James Russell Lowell,
John Hay, W. W. Astor, Frederick Douglass, James Freeman Clark, R.
G. Ingersoll, William McKinley, J. N. Bonaparte, Geo. F. Edmunds,
Geo. William Curtis, William Mahone, William E. Dodge, Bishop
Phillips Brooks, James Theodore Holly, Bishop of Hayti, Hon. John W.
Foster, Rev. Alexander Crummell, Hon. Edward Wilmot Blyden and other
distinguished personages. Mr. Bruce is a voluminous and witty writer,
and represents over a dozen of the best Negro newspapers now published.
JOURNALISM IN PHILADELPHIA.
In noting the journalistic efforts of the colored people, Philadelphia
can proudly boast of having eight live newspapers and two magazines
that reflect real credit on the colored race. The first to be
considered is the _Weekly Tribune_, one of the very few colored papers
in the United States that is actually making money. It was founded in
1884 by Mr. Christopher J. Perry, and has steadily advanced as the
years rolled on, until now it is established on a solid financial
basis. It is bright, crisp, newsy, and the most popular newspaper among
the colored people in the city.
The _Standard-Echo_ began publication in 1883, with Mr. Abel P.
Caldwell as managing editor. The _Echo_ has enjoyed all the experiences
of the average Negro journal.
The _Sunday Journal_, a new feature in Negro journalism, was founded by
the late Robert G. Still, in 1895. After his death Messrs. Hart & Gee
assumed the management of it, and through their combined efforts it is
rapidly nearing the goal of success.
For workmanship, bright and crisp news, the _Sunday Herald_ has no
superior. It was established by T. Wallace Swann, January, 1896. The
paper has struck the public's vein, and bids fair to outstrip some of
the older journals.
The _Christian Banner_ is a Baptist paper, and is largely circulated
throughout the United States. Rev. G. L. P. Taliaferro is the editor.
REV. C. H. PHILLIPS, D. D.
Rev. C. H. Phillips is the editor of the _Christian_ _Index_, which is
the official organ of the C. M. E. Church. Their publishing house is
located at Jackson, Tenn., where they own their building and a splendid
printing plant. Dr. Phillips was born at Milledgeville, Ga., in 1858.
He is a graduate from Central Tennessee College, and has been prominent
since then both as teacher and pastor. Rev. Phillips has made the
_Index_ one of the leading church papers published in the country, and
the church may well be proud of him.
ADAMS BROTHERS.
Remarkable types in Negro journalism are Cyrus Field Adams and John
Quincy Adams, of the Chicago _Appeal_. The _Appeal_ is regarded as one
of the best weekly newspapers published.
HON. H. C. SMITH.
A musician, a composer, and an editor, a composite body, is Hon. Harry
C. Smith, editor and publisher of the Cleveland _Gazette_. He is a born
artist, a deep thinker, liberal and fair-minded. A valuable acquisition
to Negro journalism.
HON. JOHN C. DANCY.
[Illustration: HON. J. C. DANCY.]
Hon. John C. Dancy, editor of the _A. M. E. Zion Quarterly_, published
at Wilmington, N. C., in the interest of the A. M. E. Zion Church,
has held many responsible positions in the State and Nation. His
ability as an editor, and as an orator, has already been acknowledged
by the most reliable newspapers in this country. Mr. Dancy is well
known throughout the United States and Europe. His career has been
remarkable, and his attitude in defence of human rights is stern and
unsympathetic.
WILLIAM HOWARD DAY.
[Illustration: REV. WM. HOWARD DAY, D. D.]
Rev. William Howard Day, financial secretary of the African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church, is one of the brightest men in the United
States. He has had, in addition to a fine collegiate training, the
advantage of much travel and experience. Mr. Day has the honor of being
the only colored man I know of who holds just such a position as he
now occupies. In 1891, he was elected superintendent of the public
schools of Harrisburg and Steelton, Pa.; he has held the position up
to this time (1896) with credit to himself, and has so conducted the
school work that the general verdict is in his favor. Men holding
this position are only elected for one year at a time; so this makes
his position all the more interesting, from the fact that he has been
re-elected each year since 1891.
I wish to call the attention of my readers to a very important feature
of his work, which I feel is a great advantage to the colored people.
He has been able to unite the schools, not only in allowing white and
colored scholars to attend in the same building, but he has succeeded
in getting white and colored teachers as well. Mr. Day has been a
regular contributor to the daily press of Harrisburg, and weekly and
monthly periodicals throughout this country.
REV. I. B. SCOTT, A. M., D. D.
Rev. I. B. Scott, A. M., D. D., who was president of Wiley University
at Marshall, Texas, was at the last General Conference of the M. E.
Church, held in Cleveland, Ohio, in May, 1896, elected as editor of the
_Southwestern Christian Advocate_, which is published in the interest
of the Colored members of the M. E. Church.
THE GEORGIA BAPTIST.
Published by the Georgia Baptist Printing Co., Augusta, Ga., began
publication in October, 1880. Has come out regularly every week.
Rev. W. J. White has been editor from beginning, and also business
manager. The plant is worth about $3,000, has one large cylinder and
two first-class job presses, employs the year round twelve to eighteen
hands, all colored, and prints minutes for about sixty religious
bodies, conventions and associations.
GEO. L. KNOX.
Mr. George L. Knox, the publisher of the _Freeman_, at Indianapolis,
Ind., has given the colored people one of the best illustrated weekly
papers ever issued in this country. Mr. Knox is a hard worker, and the
_Freeman_ is doing a most creditable work.
WALTER H. STOWERS.
[Illustration: W. H. STOWERS.]
Mr. Walter H. Stowers is a city clerk in Detroit, Mich. He is one of
the bright minds among young colored men. He is Deputy County Clerk
for Wayne County, Mich., his special duty being clerk of one of the
Circuit Court rooms. He has also been admitted to the bar, and is a
member of the law firm of Barnes & Stowers. He was at one time one of
the editors of the _Plaindealer_. Mr. Stowers and Mr. Wm. Anderson
wrote "Appointed," an American novel, which has attracted considerable
attention.
MR. CHARLES STEWART.
Mr. Stewart has for years done work on white daily papers as a regular
reporter. At the last General Conference of the A. M. E. Church, which
met in Wilmington, N. C., Mr. Stewart took all of the conference
reports, and the _Wilmington Messenger_ has this to say of him:
"The _Messenger_ gave full and readable reports of the proceedings of
the conference, and we take this opportunity to commend Mr. Charles
Stewart for the excellent and satisfactory manner in which he made the
reports for us. It was a laborious piece of work, and all who read the
reports can testify that the work was efficiently and cleverly done.
Mr. Stewart is a native of Kentucky, and began newspaper work on the
Louisville _Courier-Journal_ in 1880. Subsequently he was engaged by
the Chicago _Inter-Ocean_ and worked as a reporter on that paper from
1885 to 1892, since which time he has been on the editorial staff of
the Chicago _Dispatch_. He is said to be the only Negro holding such a
position in journalism.
THE WOMAN'S ERA.
[Illustration: MRS. J. ST. P. RUFFIN,
_Editor of The Woman's Era_.]
_The Woman's Era_, published at Boston, Mass., is strictly a woman's
journal. It is issued monthly, and Mrs. Josephine St. P. Ruffin is
its editor. The _Era_ is the organ of the Federation of Afro-American
Women. It is beautifully illustrated, and the literary matter is of the
very best quality.
_The Woman's Era_ is a much-needed publication, and to my mind is
filling a long-felt want. I am personally acquainted with Mrs. Ruffin
and I am sure she is well suited for the work she has in hand as the
editor of the _Woman's Era_. We need more such bright intellectual
lights as Mrs. Ruffin to penetrate the dark clouds of prejudice that
hang over this country North and South.
I. GARLAND PENN.
This young man has written and published several books. His first book,
"_The Afro-American Press_," gave short sketches of the colored editors
and writers. The book had large sale all over the country. Mr. Penn
is at the head of the Colored schools of Lynchburg, Va., his native
town. He was appointed chief commissioner of the Cotton States and
International Exposition, at Atlanta, Ga., for the Colored people's
department. He is a very young man to have accomplished so much and we
feel sure that he has before him a bright and useful future.
PROF. E. JOHNSON.
Prof. E. Johnson, of Raleigh, N. C., now a teacher in the law
department of Shaw University, has written the only school history now
in use in Colored schools, which makes any reference to what Colored
people have done. I feel that Mr. Johnson did a grand work to get
his book into the public schools of North Carolina, and I only wish
such books could be in use in all Colored schools, for all over this
country, Colored children are being taught out of books which make no
reference whatever to what progress has been made by the race. It is
very hard to stimulate race pride without race information.
PROF. H. T. KEALING, B. S., A. M.
[Illustration: PROF. H. T. KEALING, B. S., A. M.]
The present editor of the _A. M. E. Church Review_, who takes Dr.
Coppin's place, is indeed a unique character and has filled some
important positions as an educator and writer. He was elected Assistant
Principal of Prairie View State Normal School of Texas in 1883. While
here he attracted much attention throughout the country by an impromptu
speech before the National Educational Association in Topeka, Kan.,
which the _New England Journal of Education_ pronounced the brightest
and wittiest piece of oratory in the whole session. He contributed in
1886 to _The Century Magazine_, of New York, for which he was well
paid. He at one time was supervisor of the Colored schools in Austin,
Tex. The position was created by the board for him. I know of no other
such case. For four years he was President of Paul Quinn College at
Waco, Tex. While there he added several new features to its curriculum.
During his vacations he spent his time in the South and Northwest as
a lecturer, and is now known as one of the best platform speakers in
the country regardless of color. His lecture, "The American Jonah,"
is unique, witty, forcible, and a popular favorite. As an editor he
has had some experience before and has been a regular contributor to
_Inter-Ocean_, _N. E. Journal of Education_, _Texas School Journal_,
_Galveston News_ and many other leading papers of the country. I am
sure the _A. M. E. Review_ has fallen into good hands. Mr. Kealing was
elected to his present position in May, 1896, at Wilmington, N. C.
PAUL L. DUNBAR
whose book of poems brought forth high praise from the Hoosier poet,
James Whitcomb Reilly. His book also attracted the attention of William
Dean Howell who wrote a splendid review of it in _Harper's Magazine_,
in which he said, "Mr. Dunbar's poems have given me a much higher
estimate of the Negro."