Black History Month: Celebrating Those Who Came Before Us

Robert Sengstacke Abbott (1870 - 1940)

Black publications of today, such as Ebony, Essence, Black Enterprise and Upscale, would probably not exist without the weekly newspaper Chicago Defender. The publication founded by Robert Sengstacke Abbott in 1905 began as a four-page pamphlet, which increased in circulation with every edition. The newspaper actively encouraged African Americans to migrate from the South for better economic opportunities. The Defender promoted Black pride, dignity and assertiveness.

February 10, 2021

Source: O The Oprah Magazine, January 2021, PBS, The Chicago Literacy Hall of Fame, Encyclopedia Britannica

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Black History Month: Celebrating Those Who Came Before Us

Columbia Public Schools