Max Barber facts for kids
Jesse Max Barber was an important African-American journalist, teacher, and dentist. He was born on July 5, 1878, and passed away on September 20, 1949. He dedicated his life to fighting for equal rights and sharing important ideas through his writing.
Biography
Early Life and Education
Jesse Max Barber was born in Blackstock, South Carolina. His parents had been slaves before he was born. He worked hard to get an education. He attended Benedict College and later Virginia Union University. While in college, he was very active. He was the student editor of the university's journal, which means he helped put together the student newspaper. He was also the president of the literary society, a club for students who loved reading and writing.
A Voice for Change
After finishing college in 1903, Jesse Max Barber began working for a magazine called Voice of the Negro. This magazine was started in Atlanta in 1904 and came out every month. It focused on important writings and ideas for African Americans. Jesse Max Barber quickly became its main editor, known as the editor-in-chief.
In 1905, he helped create the Niagara Movement. This was an important group that fought for civil rights and equal treatment for African Americans. As editor, Barber looked for new and strong voices to write for the Voice magazine. By 1906, Voice of the Negro was very popular. It was the leading Black magazine in the United States, with about 15,000 copies sold each month.
Facing Challenges
In 1906, there were serious events known as the Atlanta Riots. After these riots, Jesse Max Barber faced threats from angry groups of white people. Because of these dangers, he had to leave Atlanta and move to Chicago.
In Chicago, he tried to find money to keep his magazine going, but he couldn't. So, Voice of the Negro stopped being published in 1907. Jesse Max Barber's strong opinions had also made an enemy of another powerful leader, Booker T. Washington. Because of Washington's actions, Barber lost jobs as a newspaper editor in Chicago and as a teacher in Philadelphia.
A New Path
To escape these problems and find a stable career, Jesse Max Barber decided to try something new. In 1909, he went back to school to study dentistry at the Philadelphia Dental School. He worked hard and graduated in 1912. After that, he opened his own dental practice in Philadelphia.
Even with his new career, Jesse Max Barber remained interested in important events. In 1923, he attended and spoke at a special gathering at John Brown's grave in North Elba, New York. This event was meant to be an annual gathering for Black people from all over the country.
