Twelve decades is a long time. And for African-Americans, it predates much of what is familiar to us today. For instance, 120 years ago there were no Black fraternities or sororities, Black-owned businesses were incredibly rare and segregation was the law of the land.
To help you put things into proper perspective during this particular timeframe, here are some facts about the African-American experience between 1890 and 1900:
The U.S. Census of 1890 noted 7,488,676 Blacks.
Blacks were disenfranchised in 1890. Efforts such as The Mississippi Plan used literacy tests to exclude Blacks. In 1895, South Carolina passed a similar statute, with Louisiana and North Carolina following in 1898 and 1900. Many other states adopted the same policies in subsequent years.
African-American leader Frederick Douglas died in 1895.
In 1895, Booker T. Washington delivered his famous “Atlanta Compromise” address where he said “the Negro problem,” would be resolved by policies of gradualism and accommodation.
In the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson case, the Supreme Court upheld Jim Crow laws, noting “separate but equal” was consistent with the 14th Amendment.
Within the 1890–1900 10-year span, records indicate 1,217 Black Americans were lynched. This figure does not account for the numerous other lynchings that were not reported or accurately documented.
As you can see, the Black experience around 1895 — the year the Indianapolis Recorder was founded — was not an exuberant time for Blacks. The occurrences of that period of time in this country’s history, coupled with the fact that most Blacks lived in abject poverty, make the founding of this publication that much more remarkable. Will Porter and George P. Stewart founded the Recorder with a simple, yet impactful purpose: to educate the minority community on topics of relevance to them. Porter and Stewart’s effort was a bold and courageous move, and it was not well-received by the greater community. For decades, the Recorder endured arson attempts, bomb threats and various intimidation efforts from hate-infused groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. Those were incredibly scary and uncertain times for the Recorder and its staff, but by God’s grace, their steadfast resolve won, allowing us to celebrate the newspaper’s 120th anniversary.
As I reflect on the accomplishments of the Recorder — our countless local and national awards, the prestige of being amongst the Top 10 of the more than 200 Black newspapers in the country, and even our ability to sustain during incredibly challenging times in the media industry — I cannot help but feel a sense of pride. I am proud of Porter and Stewart for having the foresight to understand the needs of the Black community while possessing the courage to actually address those needs. I am proud of the previous staffers — those of the distant past as well as the more recent alumni who committed themselves to the Recorder’s mission of preparing a conscious community today and beyond. I am also proud of the various leaders in the Recorder’s history who accepted the challenge to lead and did so effectively. I’m proud of the late Bill Mays, who preserved the legacy of the newspaper and the voices of African-Americans by purchasing the newspaper with the hope that it would live to see its centennial birthday. And I’m proud of the loyal and incredibly dedicated Recorder subscribers and advertisers who continually support the paper.
Next week, the Recorder will celebrate its 120th anniversary with a reception at the Indiana State Museum. My staff and I deliberately decided to make the event open to the public, because we are a publication deeply rooted in the community and reflective of the community. I hope you can join us Oct. 15 at 5:30. It will be a wonderful time to celebrate the legacy and evolution of not only the Recorder, but also the people who have helped to enhance it over the years, including YOU!
Come celebrate with us by honoring the past, being grateful for the present and being hopeful for continued success and longevity in the future.
