Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T03:30:48.271Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Busting Out: African-American Culture from the 1954 Republican Lincoln Day Box Supper to the 1955 Emmett Till Lynching as Documented by the Chicago Defender

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2009

James M. Salem
Get access

Extract

Black newspapers began to compete with the church as an institution influential in shaping black public opinion as early as 1878 in Chicago and, by World War II, according to the authors of Black Metropolis, they represented “one of the most powerful forces among Negroes in America.” The most prominent and influential of these weekly newspapers was the Chicago Defender, founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott, the “son of slaves,” who was encouraged to believe by his minister-stepfather that “a newspaper was one of the strongest weapons a Negro could have in the defense of his race.” Abbott, his biographer contends, “was one of the first Negroes in the United States to become a millionaire — and, in the process, he revolutionized the Negro press, today [1955] the greatest single force in the Negro world.” Though Abbott would have been proud of the compliment, he would not have printed it in his paper because during his lifetime the Defender was not permitted to use the terms Negro or black. Abbott preferred Race, Race men, and Race women.

Type
Research Article
Information
Prospects , Volume 29 , October 2005 , pp. 541 - 562
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Notes

1. StDrake, Claire and Cayton, Horace R., Black Metropolis: A Study of Negro Life in a Northern City (New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1945), 398–402.Google Scholar

2. Ottley, Roi, The Lonely Warrior: The Life and Times of Robert S. Abbott (Chicago: Henry Regnery, 1955), 1–7.Google Scholar

3. Drake, and Cayton, , Black Metropolis, 58–59Google Scholar.

4. Ottley, , Lonely Warrior, 160.Google Scholar

5. Lemann, Nicholas, The Promised Land: The Great Black Migration and How It Changed America (New York: Vintage, 1992), 16.Google Scholar

6. Mullen, Bill V., Popular Fronts: Chicago and African-American Cultural Politics, 1935–46 (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1999), 44.Google Scholar

7. Ottley, , Lonely Warrior, 136.Google Scholar

8. Halberstam, David, The Fifties (New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1993), 444–45.Google Scholar

9. Ottley, , Lonely Warrior, 167.Google Scholar

10. Marks, Carole, Farewell — We're Good and Gone: The Great Black Migration (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1989), 1.Google Scholar

11. Lee, George W., Beale Street Sundown (New York: House of Field, 1942), 62.Google Scholar

12. Lemann, , Promised Land, 5–6.Google Scholar

13. Halberstam, , The Fifties, 446.Google Scholar

14. Ottley, , Lonely Warrior, 140–41.Google Scholar

15. Page-one Defender headlines for March 13, 1954, November 20, 1954, September 25, 1954, October 15, 1955, February 5, 1955, and February 20, 1954, respectively.

16. Drake, and Cayton, , Black Metropolis, 401–02.Google Scholar

17. See http://www.pbs.org/blackpress/news_bios/defender.html, February 25, 2003.

18. Mullen, , Popular Fronts, 46–47.Google Scholar

19. Drake, and Cayton, , Black Metropolis, 401–02.Google Scholar

20. Unless otherwise noted, all newspaper references are to the national edition of the Chicago Defender: McLeod Bethune, Mary, “The Negro Press Accepts the Challenge of a New Period,” 07 10, 1954, 11Google Scholar; and “The Supreme Court Decision Imposes New Responsibility on Negro Press,” 07 17, 1954, 11.Google Scholar

21. Young, Billie Jean, “I Know You,” in Fear Not the Fall, with an introduction by Margaret Rose Gladney (Montgomery, Ala.: New South, 2003), 36.Google Scholar

22. “Platform,” Chicago Defender, 01 16, 1954, 11.Google Scholar

23. For a discussion of black popular music of this period, see Salem, James M., “Johnny Ace: A Case Study in the Diffusion and Transformation of Minority Culture,” Prospects: An Annual of American Cultural Studies 17 (1992): 209–39CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

24. “A White House Assistant,” Pittsburgh Courier, 01 30, 1954, 8Google Scholar; “Ike Ignores Civil Rights,” 01 16, 1954, 2Google Scholar; Payne, Ethel L., “Bar Howard U Singers From GOP Dinner Rally: Blackface Comic Entertains 8,000,” 02 13, 1954, 1Google Scholar; and Hicks, James L., “Howard U. Choir Snubbed at GOP Rally,” Washington Afro-American, 02 9, 1954, 1–2Google Scholar.

25. “Shades of Emancipation” (Editorial), 02 20, 1954, 2Google Scholar; “The GOP Should Be Thankful” (Editorial), 02 20, 1954, 11Google Scholar; and “Ike Sorry for GOP Blunder,” 02 20, 1954, 1.Google Scholar

26. “A Report on the President's Record: Dispelled by Ike's Record,” 04 3, 1954, 12.Google Scholar

27. “Ike Names Wilkins to Labor Post,” 03 13, 1954, 1Google Scholar; and “Wilkins Makes History by Attending Cabinet Meeting,”August 28, 1954,1.Google Scholar

28. “Ike Gets Publishers' Award for Battle Against Capital Jim Crow,” 04 17, 1954, 1–2Google Scholar; “Defender Query Angers Ike: Resents Quiz on Travel Bias Bill,” 07 17, 1954, 1–2Google Scholar; Dunnigan, Alice A., “Why Press Query Fired Ike's Ire,” 07 24, 1954, 1–2Google Scholar; “Haitian President Guest of White House,” 01 29, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “Ike Award Kicks Off Defender Anniversary,” 05 7, 1955, 1–2Google Scholar; and “Negroes in White House Society, Ebony, 06 1955, 17Google Scholar.

29. “First of Race in White House Post, “National Grapevine, 07 23, 1954, 1Google Scholar; “Achievement Score Board,” 07 23, 1955, 2Google Scholar; and Halberstam, , The Fifties, 427.Google Scholar

30. “Bias Hurts U.S., Aids Reds — Nixon,” 01 2, 1954, 1Google Scholar; “NAACP Asks Federal Aid for 50 GIs,” 01 23, 1954, 1Google Scholar; and “Questions Firing of Navy Barbers Who Wouldn't Cut Hair of Tan Gobs,” 02 20, 1954, 1.Google Scholar

31. “62 Executed in '53; 31 Negroes,” 04 17, 1954, 9Google Scholar; “U.S. Bias Hit Hard by Nixon,” 06 26, 1954, 3Google Scholar; and “Randolph Opens Attack on Biased Rail Unions: Negro Exclusion Affects 2000,000,” 11 6, 1954, 1.Google Scholar

32. “Ella, 3 Aids Sue Pan-American,” 01 8, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “Joyce Bryant, Barred Twice Fights Chicago Hotel Ban,” 01 22, 1955, 1–2Google Scholar; and “Goose Sues Cafe When Refused,” 02 12, 1955, 6.Google Scholar

33. “NAACP Raps Olympic Limitation to Trapshooters of Bias Group,” 05 7, 1955, 10Google Scholar; and “Bias on Decline, But Jim Crow Also Found in West,” 06 11, 1955, 3.Google Scholar

34. “Seek Ruling on Minstrel Shows in Public Schools,” 06 5, 1954, 4Google Scholar; “See Showdown on Minstrel Shows,” 12 11, 1954, 1Google Scholar; “Kansas PTAs to Integrate in Autumn,” 05 7, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “Sears Stores in L.A. Now Hire Negroes,” 04 23, 1955, 3Google Scholar; and “Oregon Church Dissolves, Integrates,” 07 2, 1955, 4.Google Scholar

35. “Oakland Firemen Now Integrated,” 12 24, 1955, 2Google Scholar; “Los Angeles Fire Chief Quits Over Integration,” 11 12, 1955, 5Google Scholar; “Halt, Reverse Integration of L.A. Fire Department,” 12 17, 1955, four-star edition, 1Google Scholar; and “Oust Fire Chief Over Bias Rule,” 12 24, 1955, four-star edition, 1.Google Scholar

36. “Boston Hotel Bans Race Bias,” 07 3, 1954, 4Google Scholar; “Elect 3 Negroes to Congress,” 11 13, 1954, 1Google Scholar; and “Young Mr. Diggs Seated as 400 Followers Cheer,” 01 15, 1955, 2.Google Scholar

37. “Stage Workers Mix Union in New York,” 07 9, 1955, 1Google Scholar; Birchman, Robert L., “N.Y. Bans Racial Tag on Driver's License,” 12 17, 1955, 3Google Scholar; “Drop Color Box from N.Y. Turf License,” 12 31, 1955, 9Google Scholar; “Whites Choose Negro Pastor,” 10 8, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “Harlem Newsman Given Top Post with CBS-TV,” 12 31, 1955, 5Google Scholar; “Chicago Negro Wins Post on Chemist Board,” 05 21, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “Airline Ends Barrier, Hires First 2 Clerks,” 08 13, 1955, 1–2Google Scholar; “BBDO Hires Second Negro Marketing Exec.,” 01 23, 1954, 5Google Scholar; and “Columbus, O. Hires Negro Bus Driver,” 02 13, 1954, 3Google Scholar.

38. “Birmingham Ends Racial Sport Ban,” 02 6, 1954, 24Google Scholar.

39. “Mississippi Television Station Drops Racial Ban: College Choir Gets Weekly TV Segment,” 03 20, 1954, 19Google Scholar; “Dodgers and Braves Split Two Games in Birmingham, No Racial Flareup,” 04 17, 1954, 24Google Scholar; “Negro Vote Wins for Sparkman,” 05 15, 1954, 1Google Scholar; “D.C. Fire Dept. to Be Integrated,” 09 11, 1954, 12Google Scholar; and “Integration Succeeds in Ark. Town,” 09 25, 1954, 1Google Scholar.

40. “A Few After [sic] Thoughts,” National Grapevine, 09 18, 1954, 2Google Scholar; “Final Score Sheet” (Editorial), 11 20, 1954, 2Google Scholar; and “Ala. May Strike White Supremacy Off Ballots,” 12 25, 1954, 3Google Scholar.

41. “Navy Wins Two Victories in New Orleans Bowl Tilt,” 01 15, 1955, 10Google Scholar; “Texas Court Upholds Mixed Bouts,” 01 29, 1955, 11Google Scholar; and “Public Park Segregation Ruled Out by U.S. Court: Five States Affected by New Edict,” 03 26, 1955, 1–2Google Scholar.

42. “Memphis Plans Hiring First Ten Firemen,” 04 2, 1955, 1Google Scholar; and “So Textbook's References to Tune Can't List Sepians as Brotherly,” 04 23, 1955, 7Google Scholar.

43. “8 Cases Threaten Dixie Ban on Miscegenation,” 07 23, 1955, 4Google Scholar; “Demand Right to Use Beach in Florida,” 07 30, 1955, 2Google Scholar; “Texas Town Abolishes Jim Crow,” 07 30, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “End Jim Crow Public Housing in Capital,” 10 1, 1955, 4Google Scholar; “Florida White Man Gets Life for Raping Negro,” 10 8, 1955, 3Google Scholar; “Highest Texas Court Outlaws Segregation,” 10 22, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “Court Bans Race Labels on Ballot,” 11 26, 1955, 1Google Scholar; and “Maryland to End National Guard Bias,” 12 3, 1955, 3Google Scholar.

44. Barnett, Albert, “Big Business Courts Negro Market; Indolent Finally Wakes Up,” 02 6, 1954, 9Google Scholar.

45. “Says Income Booming in Birmingham,” 06 12, 1954, 3Google Scholar; “6,311 Negro Farmers Own Tractors in Mississippi,” 11 13, 1954, 3Google Scholar; “Types, Numbers of Jobs Increase,” 09 4, 1954, 8Google Scholar; and “Miss. Negro Born Triples Whites,” 08 13, 1955, four-star edition, 3Google Scholar.

46. “Convict La. White Man of Raping Negro,” 12 3, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “Son of Dixie Governor in Mixed School,” 06 12, 1954, 1Google Scholar; “1st Mixed Class at Tenn. Hospital,” 06 25, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “U. of Tenn. Graduates First Negro,” 09 4, 1954, 1Google Scholar; “LSU Grants Degrees to 5 Negroes,” 06 12, 1954, 12Google Scholar; “Howard U. Professor Is Cultural Attache in Rome,” 05 21, 1955, 4Google Scholar; “Atlanta Hires First Deputies,” 06 25, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “Texas Medical Unit Accepts First Negroes,” 06 11, 1955, 5Google Scholar; and “Arlington Democrat Unit Gets 1st Negro,” 07 30, 1955, 1Google Scholar.

47. “South Carolina Hospital Hires Negro Doctor,” 11 5, 1955, 5Google Scholar; “Name Negro to Legal Staff in Florida,” 12 10, 1955, 3Google Scholar; “Vote Check Sends Negro to Md. Senate,” 11 20, 1954, 1Google Scholar; and “Negroes Compete, Schools Quit,” 02 20, 1954, 22Google Scholar.

48. “No Jim Crow Law; San Antonio Closes Pools,” 07 3, 1954, 4Google Scholar; “Threat Suit When Barred from Course,” 09 11, 1954, 11Google Scholar; and “Jim Crow Mars Legion Confab in Washington,” 09 4, 1954, 2Google Scholar.

49. “Turn Away 24 at Dixie GOP Lincoln Dinner,” 02 19, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “File Suit to End Bias in S.C. Parks,” 08 6, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “Va. Student Tests Law Against Bus Bias; Jailed,” 08 6, 1955, 1Google Scholar; and “Fine Cabbie for Integrated Ride,” 09 3, 1955, 5Google Scholar.

50. “Negro Boys Enter Derby; Cancel Race,” 07 2, 1955, 10Google Scholar; “Bar Negro Little League Team: S.C. Champs Banned by Georgia,” 08 6, 1955, 11Google Scholar; and “Dixie Bias Hurts Young Talent,” 02 12, 1955, 6Google Scholar.

51. “Cops Nab Ella Fitzgerald in Backstage Dice Raid: Texans Hold ‘Dizzy,’ 3 Other Stars,” 10 15, 1955, 1Google Scholar; and “Drop Charges Against JATP in Dixie Aces,” 11 12, 1955, 6Google Scholar.

52. “Whites Guilty of ‘Sacrilege’” (Editorial), 10 29, 1955, 9Google Scholar; “Church That Bars Priest Is Closed,” 11 19, 1955, 1Google Scholar; and “City Asks Ban on Negro Troops” 11 5, 1955, 1–2Google Scholar.

53. “Last Segregated Army Unit Fades,” 05 29, 1954, 5Google Scholar; “De-Segregation of Army Is 98 Percent Complete,” 07 17, 1954, 3Google Scholar; “Says Steve Davis Mapped GI Mix,” 11 6, 1954, 1Google Scholar; “Jim Crow Ends in VA Hospital,” 08 14, 1954, 4Google Scholar; “Say Negroes Doubled in Services,” 05 7, 1955, 3Google Scholar; and “Pullman's New Look: Negro Conductors, White Porters,” 05 22, 1954, 1Google Scholar.

54. “Signs of the Times” (Editorial), 06 26, 1954, 11Google Scholar; and “Insurance Group Drops Race Label,” 09 18, 1954, 1Google Scholar.

55. “Do you recognize this family?” Advertising Age, 10 19, 1953, 37Google Scholar; “Negro Spending Power Now Over $15,000,000,000,” Advertising Age, 10 5, 1953, 37Google Scholar; “Reflections of 1954,” National Grapevine, 01 1, 1955, 2Google Scholar; Hughes, Langston, “Hail 1955 and Remember the Years That Are Gone,” 01 8, 1955, 9Google Scholar; and “Report Boom in Negro Savings,” 09 17, 1955, 5Google Scholar.

56. “Five More Cadets Earn Bars at West Point,” 06 18, 1955, 2Google Scholar; “West Point Gets New Ky. Lad as Other Graduates,” 06 11, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “Naval Grad in Top 10 of Class,” 06 11, 1955, 4Google Scholar; “B. Davis Made General,” 11 6, 1954, 1Google Scholar; “Gen. Davis Has Formosa Command,” 06 18, 1955, 7Google Scholar; “High Court Names First Negro Page,” 07 31, 1954, 1Google Scholar; and de Mille, Arnold, “Slate Bunche for New, High UN Post: Would Outrank All Americans,” 04 24, 1954, 1–2Google Scholar.

57. “What the People Say,” 12 11, 1954, 9Google Scholar; “Readers Flood Defender with Letters About Till,” 09 24, 1955, 3Google Scholar; and “Yes We All Know” (Letter to the Editor), 12 17, 1955, four-star edition, 9Google Scholar.

58. Ross, Arthur M. and Hill, Herbert, eds., Employment, Race, and Poverty (New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1967), 49Google Scholar.

59. “Eisenhower Must Act Now” (Editorial), 12 3, 1955, 1Google Scholar.

60. Wilson, L. Alex, “Lynching in Mississippi: Minister Shotgunned to Death Gang Style – Governor Refuses Appeal for Probe,” 05 21, 1955, 1–2Google Scholar; “Jury Refuses to Indict White Men in Killing,” 10 1, 1955, 5Google Scholar; “Nation Shocked, Vow Action in Lynching of Chicago Youth,” 09 10, 1955, 1Google Scholar; “8-Man Team Covers Till Case Trial,” 09 24, 1955, 1Google Scholar; Wilson, L. Alex, “Defender Tracks Down Mystery Till ‘Witnesses,’” 10 8, 1955, 1–2Google Scholar; “Defender Till Reward $5,000: Offers Cash for Slayers of Boy,” 11 12, 1955, 1Google Scholar; Wilson, L. Alex, “Ambush Naacp Officer,” 12 3, 1955, 1–2Google Scholar; and “Eisenhower Must Act Now” (Editorial), 12 3, 1955, 1–2Google Scholar.

61. Halberstam, , The Fifties, 437Google Scholar.