By Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
Charlotta Bass was a pioneering African-American journalist, civil rights activist and politician who made significant strides in both the media and the fight for racial equality in the United States.
Credit: AFRO Archives
Though her birth year is in dispute, Bass was born at some point between 1874 and 1888 in Sumter, South Carolina. According to information from the National Women’s History Museum, her parents, Kate and Hiram Spears, had 11 children and Charlotta was the sixth. After moving to Rhode Island in 1900, Bass was introduced to the newspaper business and began working for the Black Press. She helped the Providence Watchmen sustain by selling ads and subscriptions.
Ten years into her time in Rhode Island, Bass decided to move to Los Angeles, Calif., she preferred warmer weather due to health conditions. There, she worked for The Eagle. When the publisher at the time died, he asked Bass to pick up the torch and take over the publication for him. She obliged, rebranded the paper as The California Eagle and turned the tabloid into the largest Black-owned newspaper on the West Coast. Bass became a giant of Black Press, and used every tool available to fight for equal rights in America. In 1925 she fought the Ku Klux Klan in the courtroom…and won. And when they descended upon her publication’s offices– with a pistol in hand– she emerged victorious there too.
Bass dedicated herself to improving society in any way she could. She fought for civil rights, human rights, women’s rights and gave a voice to the immigrants seeking to call America home.
Bass carried the paper to 1951. At that point, she sold it and took up a second act in politics.
As the first African-American woman to run for U.S. vice president in 1952, Bass was a trailblazer who broke barriers in an era of widespread racial discrimination.
The work of Bass is honored at the Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice Lab at the University of Southern California (USC), a space dedicated to preserving her work and inspiring future generations of journalists who are committed to truth and justice.
Dr. Allissa V. Richardson, founding director of the lab, is a tenured journalism professor for the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
“The creation of the media center was in reaction to how George Floyd, and many other victims of police brutality were being portrayed. I didn’t like that their images were carelessly splashed across the media without blurring out their faces. I kept thinking about the families of their loved ones and how it must feel to have their loved ones to be depicted this way,” said Richardson.
The programming provided offers students a platform to explore issues of racial justice, learn about the role of media in shaping public discourse and develop their skills in investigative reporting and advocacy journalism. The lab is part of USC’s broader effort to address the underrepresentation of Black voices in the media industry and aims to empower young journalists.
“I thought there has to be another way that we can do journalism that does tell the story and does explain the urgency of the moment, but retains the humanity of Black people,” said Richardson. “That’s when I started the Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice lab, to teach current journalism students how to infuse this type of empathy in stories that center race.”
Through partnerships with organizations dedicated to social justice, the lab also offers internships and practical experiences to help students make a tangible impact in their communities.
“Every year the media center invites a Black media maker that is making a difference to come to campus as a part of a media sharing program,” said Richardson, adding that the goal is to “continue to shine a light on Black voices that use their platform or influence.”
The Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice Lab stands as a testament to Bass’ legacy, honoring her life’s work by continuing to inspire new generations of journalists who will carry forward her mission of using the press as a vehicle for social change.
“Two years ago we started the Charlotta Bass Media Trailblazer Award for a Black person that’s used their media for good. This year we gave the award to Brittney Griner, she came to the school and explained how she was able to power through her detention at a Russian penal colony for over 200 days.”
The lab not only preserves the history of a remarkable woman, but also provides a space for continued activism.
The post Honoring the women of the Black Press: Charlotta Bass and the new generation of activists in media appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
