The Philadelphia Independent (1931–1971) facts for kids

The Philadelphia Independent was a newspaper published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was printed from 1931 to 1971. The newspaper called itself "The World's Greatest Negro Tabloid." A tabloid is a newspaper that is smaller in size than a standard newspaper. It often has many pictures and focuses on interesting stories.

The Philadelphia Independent Newspaper

The Philadelphia Independent was an important newspaper for the Black community in Philadelphia. It shared news and stories that were important to its readers. The paper was known for being bold and speaking out on issues.

Meet the Founder: Forrest Woodard

The newspaper was started by a man named Forrest White Woodard. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on February 12, 1886. When he was a young man, Forrest Woodard moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He worked many different jobs there. He also owned several businesses, like a used car lot and a real estate company. In 1931, he decided to start The Philadelphia Independent newspaper.

Kitty Woodard Takes the Lead

Forrest Woodard's second wife, Kathryn "Kitty" Fambro Woodard, helped him with the newspaper. She was born in 1911 and lived until 2003. After Forrest Woodard passed away on March 2, 1958, Kitty took over. She managed the newspaper every day. She continued to run the paper until 1966, when she sold it.

Competing for Readers

Throughout its history, The Philadelphia Independent had a main competitor. This was another newspaper called The Philadelphia Tribune. Both papers wanted to reach Black readers in Philadelphia. Kitty Woodard once explained the difference between the two newspapers. In an interview in 1997, she said, "The Independent was for everyone." She added, "The Tribune had always been the paper for people who were more well-off." Kitty also said, "We were militant. We weren't afraid to talk about issues like they were." This means the Independent was very strong in its opinions and not afraid to challenge things.