The Philadelphia Tribune facts for kids
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| Type | African-American daily |
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| Owner(s) | Privately held |
| Founder(s) | Christopher James Perry, Sr. |
| Founded | November 27, 1884 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| City | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Circulation | 31,544 weekday 23,698 Sunday (as of September 2020) |
| ISSN | 0746-956X |
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The Philadelphia Tribune is the oldest newspaper in the United States that has always been published by and for African Americans. It started way back in 1884.
From the very beginning, The Philadelphia Tribune has worked to help African Americans in the Philadelphia area. It focused on their social lives, politics, and economic growth. When African Americans faced many challenges, the Tribune became known as the "Voice of the black community" in Philadelphia.
Today, the newspaper's main office is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It prints newspapers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The Tribune also publishes other magazines like Tribune Magazine and Entertainment Now. It serves readers in the Philadelphia and Camden areas. Since 1995, the Tribune has won the John B. Russwurm award seven times for being the "Best Newspaper" in the country.
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Christopher James Perry: Founder of the Tribune
Christopher James Perry, Sr. (born September 11, 1854 – died May 15, 1921) was an African American journalist. He was the person who started The Philadelphia Tribune. Before this, Perry wrote for other local newspapers in Philadelphia.
In 1884, the newspaper he worked for went out of business. So, on November 27, 1884, Perry decided to start his own newspaper, The Philadelphia Tribune. He did almost everything himself, acting as the owner, reporter, editor, and even the advertiser. Perry continued to work on the Tribune until he passed away in 1921. Throughout his time with the Tribune, he worked hard to support African Americans and wrote about issues important to their daily lives.
History of The Philadelphia Tribune
Early Years and Growth
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When the Tribune first started in 1884, it was a small, one-page newspaper published once a week. Even though black-owned businesses faced many difficulties back then, the Tribune quickly became successful. By 1887, it was printing about 3,225 copies every week.
In 1891, the Tribune gained national attention. Garland Penn, a well-known supporter of African-American journalism, praised the newspaper in his book. He admired the Tribune for being consistent and reliable. The Tribune was not the only black newspaper in Philadelphia at the time. It competed with others like The Philadelphia Standard Echo. However, by 1900, the Tribune became the most important voice for Black Philadelphia. W. E. B. Du Bois, a famous leader, called it the "chief news-sheet" in the city.
Helping New Arrivals in Philadelphia
After the Reconstruction era ended in 1877, many African Americans moved from the South to northern cities. They were looking for better lives and job opportunities. Philadelphia changed a lot as more African Americans arrived. This sometimes caused tension as new black residents competed for jobs and housing.
During this time, Perry and The Tribune helped educate and inform black Philadelphians. The newspaper helped new arrivals get used to their new city. It shared information about job openings, community events, and church news. The Tribune wanted to do more than just report the news. It was dedicated to improving the lives of African Americans in Philadelphia. The newspaper supported groups like the National Urban League of Philadelphia. These groups worked to fight against the growing discrimination in the city.
The Great Migration and World War I
Around 1910, a new wave of black migrants came to Philadelphia. This was part of the Great Migration, where many African Americans moved from the rural South to northern cities. More jobs became available, especially in industries, as white men went to fight in World War I.
The city became very crowded. When new black families moved into white neighborhoods, it sometimes led to violent reactions. White groups would try to scare black families. In 1914, a white group attacked a black woman's new home. The police did not investigate, and white newspapers did not report it. However, the managing editor of the Tribune, G. Grant Williams, reported the story. He encouraged African Americans to join the police force to help shape the city.
The Tribune also worked with the Colored Protective Association. They helped defend African Americans who were unfairly arrested. Williams wrote articles about protecting black women from violence. He also gave advice on good morals and values. To build a stronger community, the Tribune advertised free lectures. They also invited respected church leaders to write columns for the paper.
After World War I ended in 1918, white soldiers returned home. They competed with African Americans for jobs. This led to racial riots in the summer of 1919 in many cities. The Tribune encouraged African Americans to get an education or learn a trade. This would help them find better jobs.
By 1920, the Tribune was printing 20,000 newspapers every week. It was known as one of the best African-American newspapers in the country. In 1921, the founder, Christopher Perry, passed away. G. Grant Williams took over, but he died in 1922. Eugene Washington Rhodes then became the managing editor. He served for over 20 years until 1944. Under Rhodes, the Tribune looked better with larger print and columns. Even with higher costs, the Tribune remained very popular.
The Great Depression and the New Deal
In April 1929, before the Stock Market Crash, many black people in Philadelphia were unemployed. During the Great Depression, African Americans faced even higher unemployment rates. This was often because they had fewer job skills.
Rhodes and the Tribune wrote articles to help African Americans during these tough times. The newspaper shared information about relief aid. It advertised black social organizations, churches, and schools. By 1930, the Tribune and the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) worked together. They reported unfair hiring practices by local businesses. This negative publicity pressured businesses to change how they hired people.
When Franklin D. Roosevelt started his New Deal program in 1933, the Tribune covered the new federal aid agencies. It also showed how some programs discriminated against African Americans. The Tribune had a political challenge. It had always supported the Republican Party because of its ties to Abraham Lincoln and the Abolitionists. To keep Republicans in power, Rhodes and the Tribune stayed loyal to them. They criticized Roosevelt and his Democratic Party.
This confusing message allowed other black newspapers in Philadelphia to gain readers. In 1935, the Philadelphia Independent openly supported Roosevelt. It became more popular than the Tribune, with 30,000 weekly readers. In the mid-1930s, Rhodes added new features to the paper. He included an editorial about African-American achievements and a comic strip.
Fighting for Civil Rights
In the 1920s, John Asbury and Andrew Stevens became the first African Americans elected to the Pennsylvania State legislature. After this, the Tribune became more involved in city politics. In 1921, when a bill for equal rights was introduced, the Tribune reported which lawmakers were against it. The newspaper strongly supported the bill until Pennsylvania passed a state Equal Rights Bill in 1935.
Also in the 1920s and 1930s, the Tribune played a huge role in ending segregation in Philadelphia schools. The Philadelphia School Board was not doing enough to end separate schools for black and white students. So, in 1926, the Tribune started the Defense Fund Committee. This committee collected money to support a court case against the school board. By 1932, the Tribune helped get African Americans appointed to the School Board. This eventually led to the end of segregation in Philadelphia's public schools.
Thanks to the Tribune's reporting and its partnership with the NAACP, Philadelphia gained national attention in 1965. Demonstrators protested to end segregation at Girard College. This school was for poor boys but had only accepted white students. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Philadelphia. This visit strengthened the city's and the Tribune's connection to the national civil rights movement.
See also
- List of newspapers in Pennsylvania
