Black History Daily: Who was the First Black Woman Newspaper Publisher?
|
Posted By: Stacie Coulter on September 06, 2011 Charlotta Bass (1880-1969) is thought to be the first woman to own and publish a newspaper in this country. She bought the California Owl in 1912 and ran it for some forty years. Bass was the Progressive Party’s vice-presidential candidate in 1952, another first for a black woman. Through her journalistic and political interests, she worked tirelessly in behalf of elimination of racism and sexism. Bass was born in Sumter, South Carolina, and moved to Providence, Rhode Island, at age twenty, to work for a local newspaper. After ten years, health reasons prompted her to move from Providence to Los Angeles, where she took a part-time job with the Eagle. This paper was suffering from both poor management and its editor’s ill health. When Bass assumed control of the paper in 1912, she renamed it the California Eagle. She was married to John Bass in the same year, and they combined their efforts toward combating racial discrimination. The film Birth of a Nation, injustice in the military during World War I, the 1919 Pan-African Conference, the 1931 alleged rape case in Scottsboro, Alabama, and discrimination in employment were among the concerns that came under their scrutiny. In her lifetime, Bass ran for three political offices, but was successful in no case. She was, however, the first black grand jury member for the Los Angeles County Court. Her memoirs, published in 1960 as Forty Years: Memoirs from the Pages of a Newspaper, reveal the part that black people played in the development of Los Angeles. Sources: Jesse Carney Smith, Black Firsts, pp. 405 To learn more go to: http://www.socallib.org/bass/story/index.h... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Stacie Coulter
Executive Assistant , Member Since September 2005 |
More From This Author
Latest Blogs
 |
Understanding the Apartheid System Affecting PalestiniansAn illustration of a Palestinian family walking through a fenced checkpoint, with Israeli watchtowers in the background, emphasizing the contrast between restriction and resilience.
Apartheid is ...more
Joel Savage • 44 Views • October 5th, 2026 |
 |
The new way for communities to benefit from AI Credit buying!! Industry Paradigm shiftWHY JUNIQUES COMPANIES USES SHIFTAI TO SERVE THE UN MARKET
A Strategic, Economic, and Cultural Alignment
Join the club http://shiftai.jusmcc.net
We stand at the edge of a new era — ...more
rickey johnson • 103 Views • October 4th, 2026 |
 |
All-New 2026 Subaru Uncharted Enters New EV TerritoryThe name Uncharted suits Subaru’s newest electric vehicle. With the all-new 2026 Subaru Uncharted, the automaker has ventured into uncharted territory that would have been unheard of just a few years ...more
Randi Payton • 79 Views • October 4th, 2026 |
 |
Why Black history remains unforgettable: The images that refuse to fadeA symbolic black‑and‑white photograph showing preserved historical images and documents that represent the painful yet unforgettable memories of Black history.
Black history carries w ...more
Joel Savage • 82 Views • October 3rd, 2026 |
 |
Time of life: The legacy you leave defines who you truly wereA symbolic image showing a lone figure walking toward a bright horizon of a journey of life, legacy, and the moral choices that define a person beyond wealth or fame.
In every era of human histor ...more
Joel Savage • 107 Views • October 2nd, 2026 |
Popular Blogs
 |
Divorce in America in 2009 – What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Join Brother Marcus and the cast and the crew of the Brother Marcus Show live this Sunday evening on February 1, 2009 @ 8:00 p.m. for another hot topic in our community! “Divorce in America in 2009 ...more
Brother Marcus! • 75,457,265 Views • January 27th, 2009 |
 |
VISINE ALERT!!!Seemingly innocent medication such as Visine eyedrops are used by people to concoct a mixture with similar effects as a date-rape drug.
When mixed with alcohol and taken orally, the eyedrops can l ...more
Siebra Muhammad • 122,594 Views • May 23rd, 2009 |
 |
"Chain Hang Low" check out the real meaning of the Lyrics!Recently there is a new artist out of Saint Louis that goes by the name JIBBS. Jibbs debut single "Chain hang low" has a history that most people are not aware of. The particular nursery rhyme that th ...more
Tyhesha Judge-Fogle • 81,482 Views • November 9th, 2006 |
 |
HBCU Marketplace Gifts: Divine 9 Premium Fraternity / Sorority Playing CardsVendor: Charles Jones
Item Price: $20.00
Price Includes Shipping: Yes - Shipping Included
Item Description:
Pantheon Series - Divine 9 - Premium Playing Cards (choose Gold Series or Silve ...more
Hija Chang • 64,625 Views • December 2nd, 2018 |
 |
Black College Student Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Kissing a White GirlAlbert N. Wilson, a former University of Kansas student, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and a lifetime of probation after being convicted by an all-white jury of raping a white teen girl. Bu ...more
Roger The Great • 57,394 Views • June 4th, 2020 |
