Monday, March 9, 2009
The Black Press
Abbott's story is facinating because he went from being "too black" to becoming one of the most powerful men in the country. The face of Chicago today is a direct result of The Chicago Defender's call for African-American's to 'move north.' These papers are the only recordings of the lynchings of the late 19th century. Mass media today wouldn't allow such American injustices to pass by. They are too thirsty for a story. What is the role of papers like The Chicago Defender today? They certainly don't have as much significance and power. I can't think of a modern example of a sub-cultural social movement, especially motivated by the press. The Obama coup was in plain sight and in the center of government. So has the line blurred between massive popular media and the 'other' underground option?
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Hi Frank,
ReplyDeleteI think your question about what media today may be comparable to the Black Press of the early 20th century is a really interesting one. I think that the press - at least in the past - did serve subcultures best as a way of identifying, shaping and addressing the needs of that community. The last example of a print press that I can think of is the left countercultural press that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, of which the Village Voice today is a distant reminder.
But what do you think about blogs, or online communities found on wikis, list servs/bulletin boards, and social networking sites? Can they serve a similar purpose? How are they different or similar to the alternative or Black Press?
-Ariana