Claude Albert Barnett facts for kids

Claude Albert Barnett (September 16, 1889 – August 2, 1967) was an important American journalist and publisher. He was also an entrepreneur, someone who starts businesses, and a philanthropist, meaning he gave money to good causes. Barnett was a strong activist who worked for change.

He founded the Associated Negro Press (ANP), which was the first international news agency for Black newspapers. He spoke out against unfair rules like segregation in the military. Barnett helped share news about the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. He also covered struggles for independence in Africa. Along with Robert Sengstacke Abbott and John H. Johnson, Claude Barnett was one of the most important African-American media leaders in the 20th century. They were all based in Chicago, Illinois. Barnett helped make Black newspapers more professional and reach more people. He was also known as an "unofficial diplomat" because he advised new African governments.

Early Life and Learning

Claude Albert Barnett was born on September 16, 1889, in Sanford, Florida. When he was young, he moved to Mattoon, Illinois to live with his grandmother. He went to elementary school there and in Oak Park, Illinois.

In 1904, he started studying at Tuskegee Institute. There, he learned from Booker T. Washington about the importance of building connections with other people. Barnett graduated in 1906 with a degree in engineering.

His Career and Achievements

After finishing school, Claude Barnett worked at the Post Office in Chicago. He saw many newspapers, magazines, and advertisements there. This gave him the idea to start his own mail-order business. He created a cosmetic company called Kashmir Chemical Company. Other famous people in the beauty industry at the time were Annie Turnbo Malone and Madam C. J. Walker. To help his business, famous entertainers like Florence Mills and Ada "Bricktop" Smith advertised his beauty products. He left the Post Office in 1916 due to his health.

In 1919, Barnett started the Associated Negro Press (ANP). His goal was to provide news stories that were important to Black citizens. He built a team of freelance Black news reporters to gather these stories. By 1950, the ANP provided news to 200 newspapers across the United States. It also sent news internationally to the West Indies and Africa. The ANP covered events in Africa and for people of African descent around the world. It offered opinion columns, book reviews, movie reviews, poetry, cartoons, and photographs.

In 1934, Barnett married Etta Moten Barnett, who was a popular concert singer and actress. They raised Etta's three daughters from her previous marriage. Being married to Etta helped Claude meet even more people and expand his network. He sometimes joined her on her concert tours.

During World War II, Barnett and others pushed the U.S. government to allow Black journalists to report on the war. In 1940, Barnett was a main organizer of The Exhibit of American Negroes in Chicago. In 1950, Barnett and Etta were part of the U.S. group that went to Ghana's Independence celebration. He also worked as an advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture from 1942 to 1953. His job was to help improve the lives of Black tenant farmers.

Barnett traveled to Africa three times in 1960. He visited many countries, including Congo-Brazzaville, the DRC Congo, Liberia, Tunis, Tunisia, Tripoli, Libya, Accra, Ghana, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Dakar, Senegal, and Nigeria. During his trips, he met with leaders of these countries. For example, he met Fulbert Youlou in Brazzaville, Congo, and Col. Mobutu Sese Seko in the DRC. In 1961, thanks to Barnett's efforts, the Supreme Life Insurance Company of Chicago hosted visitors from 19 African countries.

Barnett was a board member and trustee for Tuskegee Institute from 1932 until 1965. He was the director of the Associated Negro Press (ANP) for almost 50 years. During his long career, Barnett met and became close with many important historical figures. These included Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey, Ralph Bunche, Ahmed Sékou Touré, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Nancy Cunard.

Barnett retired from the ANP in 1966.

His Death and What He Left Behind

Claude Barnett passed away in 1967. John H. Sengstacke of the Chicago Defender newspaper said that Barnett was "more than a pioneering genius in the field of journalism." He added that "no man was ever more dedicated to the liberation of Africa" and "to the cause of Negro freedom from oppression and segregation." Sengstacke felt that Barnett's death was a huge loss.

Five years after Barnett's death, in 1972, Paul Wyche noted that there hadn't been a Black news service like the ANP since Barnett died.

Awards and Honors

• 1949 - He received the Chevalier Order of Honor and Merit from the president of Haiti, Eugene Magloire.
• 1952 - He was given the honorary title, "Commander of the Order of Star of Africa," by President William V.S. Tubman of Liberia.