Andrew W. Cooper facts for kids

Andrew W. Cooper (born August 21, 1927 – died January 28, 2002) was an African-American leader during the Civil Rights Movement. He was also a businessman and a journalist. He is best known for being the publisher and editor-in-chief of The City Sun newspaper.

About Andrew W. Cooper

Andrew W. Cooper was born in 1927 in Brooklyn, New York. He went to Boys High School and later to Adelphi University. For twenty years, from 1951 to 1971, he worked as a manager at the F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company.

Fighting for Fair Voting Rights

In 1965, Cooper took legal action using the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He was fighting against something called "gerrymandering." This is when voting districts are drawn unfairly to reduce the power of certain groups of people.

Cooper lived in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Most people there were African American and Latino. However, their neighborhood was split into five different voting districts. Each district was represented by a white Congress member.

Cooper argued that these districts were drawn in a very confusing and unfair way. He said the lines made no sense and served no proper purpose. His lawsuit, called Cooper v. Power, was successful.

A Historic Outcome

Because of Cooper's lawsuit, a new voting district was created in New York. This led to the election of Shirley Chisholm in 1968. She became the first black woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress. This was a huge step forward for civil rights.

Becoming a Journalist

In the 1970s, Cooper left his business career to become a journalist. In 1977, he started the Trans-Urban News Service (TUNS). His goals were to train minority journalists and to create news stories important to their communities.

In 1979, TUNS won a top award from the Public Relations Society of America. This was for their series of articles about racial tensions between black and Jewish people in Crown Heights. Cooper also wrote a weekly column called "One Man's Opinion" for the Amsterdam News. He also wrote for The Village Voice.

Founding The City Sun

In 1984, Cooper started The City Sun. This was a weekly newspaper that focused on issues important to African Americans in New York City. By 1987, the newspaper had about 18,500 readers. However, due to money problems, Cooper had to close The City Sun in 1996.

In 1987, the National Association of Black Journalists recognized Cooper as Journalist of the Year. This was for his important work at The City Sun.

Andrew W. Cooper passed away in Brooklyn in 2002 after having a stroke.