Newspaper Page Text
The 21st Century-Making the Connection! MARCH 1999 MBC Wolverine OBSERVER 15
African American
Newspapers Must Survive
ByTiffini Barnes
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Most African American newspapers
of the period were concerned mainly
with antislavery crusade. The best
known newspaper was the first one,
Freedom’s Journal, started by Sam
uel Cornish and John Russwurm in
1827. It was short lived, but 24
newspapers emerged during Pre-
Civil war.
African American newspapers of
the twentieth century became the
medium through which the yearning
of the race were expressed. During
World War I, African Americans
newspapers encouraged African
Americans to move to industrial
centers in search of work. It urged
support of the war and it also led in
the flight for integration of African
American into the American life.
Editors, notably John Murphy of
the Afro-American, Robert S. Abbott
of the Chicago Defender, Robert L.
Vann of the Pittsburgh Courier and
P. B. Young of the Norfolk Journal
and Guide, seemed to have had the
capacity to combine an effective edi
torial policy with a shrewd business
sense to make their newspapers an
important institutions in the African
American world. By 1920, several of
them had reached a weekly circula
tion of more than 100,000, while
twenty years later several reported
circulation above 200,000.
In the decades following World War
I, the number of African American
newspapers increased steadily.
Every African American community
felt the need for its own newspaper to
perform the services that few white
newspapers could perform. Such as,
The Informer in Houston, The Eagle
and The Sentinel in Los Angeles and
The Call in Kansas City. Therefore,
several news gathering agencies were
established, the most important was
Claude Barnett’s Associated Negro
Press. The editors organized the Ne
gro Newspaper Publisher’s Associa
tion and together they sought to es
tablish uniform policies and views
that affected African Americans.
By 1979, there were more than 350
African American newspapers, maga
zines and bulletins that were issued
on a regular weekly, monthly, or
quarterly basis. Only two newspa
pers, Atlanta World and The Chicago
Defender, were published daily. The
African American world produced a
journalistic business that repre
sented, an investment of more than
$35 million and provided employment
for more than 10,000.
There is a need for the African
American Press. They must continue
the message of hope and pride for Af
rican Americans.
As early as the 70's African American newspapers have
been on a decline - subscriptions and single sales are lacking.
Why? Their consumer interest stories aren't attracting the
younger generation and many times older (24 and up) gen
eration either, lack of advertising, poor editing, graphic design
of the newspaper needs updating (masthead and layout).
It is time for a change and it's a challenge. Competing with
TV, radio and the W.W.W. in this computer age is a challenge
within itself, not to mention the big daily newspapers.
African American newspapers must redefine their niche in
the communities they serve - get out and ask the readers/
consumers what they like. Well prepared research material is
the key starting point for answers. Marketing the newspaper
to the community and advertisers in an upbeat, professional
manner.
African Americans are very sophisticated people, treat them
that way in presentation - educated, blue and white collar jobs,
business owners, world travelers, and consumers of a vast
number of products - networking within the community and
promoting the importance of receiving and reading a RE
VISED, highly educational and informing newspaper. In this
day and time being multi-cultural wouldn't hurt. The tips
above are just a few brief things for thought.
To the African American consumer in the city or suburbs,
don't wait until its gone and ask what happen to my commu
nity paper (college newspapers included) - it's 1999 you have
to do your part - support your favorite African American
newspaper by subscribing to one today or at least buy one
and then write the editor and tell them what you think.
Johnnie B Bates Jr.
Consultant/Graphic Designer
WHOUSTICALLY
By Essex Igyan
STAFF WRITER
One Eye
CONTINUED
to grow and evolve, you’ve got to
learn how to close one eye and not let
every little thing bother you. You
and your mate have many different
expectations, emotional needs, val
ues, dreams, weaknesses and
strengths. You are two unique indi
vidual children of God who have de
cided to share a life together. Nei
ther one of you are perfect, but are
you perfect for each other? Do you
bring out the best in each other?
Do you compliment and compromise
with each other or do you compete,
compare and control? What do you
bring to the relationship? Do you
bring past relationships, past hurts,
past mistrust, past pain? You can’t
take someone to the altar to alter
them. You can’t make someone love
you or make someone stay. If you
develop self-esteem, spiritual dis
cernment and “a life” you won’t find
yourself making someone else re
sponsible for your happiness or re
sponsible for your pain. Manipula
tion, control, jealousy, neediness and
selfishness are not the ingredients of
a thriving, healthy, loving and lasting
relationship. Seeking status, sex and
security are the wrong reasons to be
in a relationship.
What keeps a relationship strong?
Communication, intimacy, a sense of
humor, sharing household tasks,
some getaway time without business
or children, daily exchanges (a meal,
shared activity, a hug, a call, a touch,
a note), sharing common goals and
interests, giving each other space to
grow without feeling insecure.
undone
TCf u iuj
I magine life without the luxury of
electricity, safe drinking water,
telecommunication, ATM, credit
cards, heat, or transportation (air/
rail/bus). At the turn of the century —
January 1, 2000 — life may proceed
without the previously mentioned
conveniences. When the millennium
bug bites, civilization as we know
may come to a screeching halt.
About 50 years ago computers were
in their infant stage. To save time
and money, computer programmers
made a reckless mistake. They de
cided to drop the first two digits of
the year, 1 and 9. Hence, 1957 be
came 57, 1958 became 58 and so
forth. The digits 19 were understood
by mainframe computer systems.
On January 1, 2000 these and other
computer turnover to “00” or 1900.
This problem is referred to as the
Millennium bug or Y2K.
Since 1996, programmers have
been working day and night to fix
this accident waiting to happen. If
on Friday, your boss gave you a box
of marbles, polish, and a rag, with
instructions to polish the marbles by
Monday, you could easily complete
the task — right? How about if he
took you to the Grand Canyon, filled
it with marbles, and demanded that
you polish every marble, could you
complete the task in a weekend, a
month — a year? Well, computer pro
grammers are being asked the second
question, with a few exceptions, in
stead of marbles they must sort
through billions of lines of computer
code, there are no jobs sat stake —
civilization is the prize.
The Clinton scandal has gotten
more press than Y2K ever will. In
fact, in the midst of the single-most
damaging threat to our society, our
government has adopted a “hands-
off’ approach to solving this problem.
In laymen’s terms this deliberate
carelessness means “every man for
himself.” DO THE WORDS MAR
TIAL LAW RING ANY BELLS? Log
on the internet, locate a search en
gine, type Y2K or millennium bug in
the “search” box and read.
Have we become so accustomed to
“our way of life” that we reject the re
ality of global disaster the millen
nium may bring. Many of us believe
in the biblical prophecy known as
“THE RAPTURE” but close our eyes
to the potential of the millennium
bug. Right now you may be thinking
“I’m about to graduate in two years, I
can’t waste my time worrying about
this Y2K thing.” This thing doesn’t
care about our plans — it doesn’t care
about how it will effect our fives. It
has no feelings. We can either get
prepared or remain scared. One way
to get prepared is to use the law and
science of “unity.” You know, to
gether we stand, divided we fall. The
following is a fist of quotes, facts and
information about Y2K:
—Citicorp, the largest bank in Amer
ica, will not be Y2K ready until 2051.
—“The threat is...now inescapable.
The world’s banks are dependent on
computers that cannot be fixed in the
brief time remaining before the crash.
But any bureaucrat who admits this
publicly could trigger a panic bank
run. NO ONE WITH ENOUGH IN
FLUENCE TO CREATE A WORLD
WIDE BANK R UN CAN AFFORD
TO TELL THE TRUTH...!”
Gary North, Remnant Review 1997.
—This problem is global; any repair
ed system that interacts with an old
system may become contaminated.
—“And he causeth all, both small and
great, rich and poor, free and bond, to
receive a mark in their right hand, or
in their foreheads; and that no man
might buy or sell save he that had the
mark, or the name of the beast or the
number of his name. Here is wisdom.
Let him that hath understanding
count the number of a man; and his
number is six hundred threescore
and six. (666)”
Revelation 13:16-18
—“Out of Chaos...Order — The New
World Order”