Richmond planet., 1930-12-13
DR.. W. |. Ransome
On
SOCIOLOGY
The Negro And His Newspaper
WHY should the Negro nave a newspaper?

Why should the Negro have a newspaper?
This Question seems obsolete to many minds, yet there are
thousands who, by their attitude and practice, show that they
either do not know that there are any Negro papers, or they I 4n
that Negroes should not publish newspapers and periodicals. lnto
some of the supposed intelligent Negro homes Negro newspapers
and periodicals never 20. The excuse often given is that these
Negro papers contain no news" Grant that all the white papers
contain news, Whom is the news about? If any news appears
about the Negro, what phase of Negro activity is usually depicted?
If anything good happens to appear, where IN the average White
paper does it appear? m.u
known thoughts lest we forget, and that we may have better rea-
sons for doing things, even if we make no Improvement N te
doing thereof. Following are some OF the reasons that make hec-
essary Negro newspapers and periodicals:
% Segregation Is Forced Upon the Negro
AS long as segregation exists as it does now, a separate NE
gro newspaper must be essential. We pass over the fact that
Negro newspapers create jobs, afford an outlet for literary ex-
preston and form mediums for advertising. All this IS true, out
the Negro needs a newspaper and periodical to let the world know
that Negroes really exist in America. If there were crimes COM
mitted by Negroes, judging from the little else that is said by
the average white papers, the world would not know that Negroes
lived in America-except for statutes making more rgld Jim
crowism. As the rise and fall of the infants chest tells to the
mother in the distant corner of the room that the babe in the
crib still lives, so does the appearance of the Negro Newspaper
whether weekly or monthly-tel that the Negro is at least alive.
() Negro Shortcomings On Front Page
During a course in race relation, the writer was assigned the
task to read many newspapers, and to make report at the end Of
a month as to the Negro news in white dalies. This report would
make interesting reading. Negro crime and white mans lynchlng
of the Negro received great headlines on front pages Anythlng
tired owards him was front page matter, while all that was oppo-
site, if it appeared at ALL found itself in the most obscure place.
Whenever anything good appeared about the Negro, on the front
page, it was either something about AN od-hme darkey'" or
about some white movement in behalf of the Negro, or some Ne,
gro had sung before some white people. Something white" had
to be in it to get it worthy of front page location.
60 Negro Faces
Seldom do Negro faces appear in white newspapers, unless
they be the faces of criminals, or unless the Negroes are connected
with some movement managed by white people. The only Negro
faces other than criminal the writer recalls seeing in the Rich
mond white newspapers during the last ten years have been those
in connection with the Community Fund Movement. On the other
hand, Negro criminal faces appear frequently. But for the Negro
press, the Negro boy and girl would have little or no idea of the
likeness of great Negro men and women.
Are There Too Many Negro Papers?
The writer is of the opinion that there are too many Negro
papers, as there are too many other things. One good newspaper
in any city is sufficient for the Negroes. The idea of combination
is becoming popular. 1t is hoped that the Negro newspaper will
profit by this possibility. Many Negroes do not buy Negro papers.
If all the Negroes in each city bought Negro newspapers, even
then the circulation would be none too great. The white papers
can count on Negroes among their subscribers, but Negroes can
not anticipate white subscribers to any great degree. Since it is
the matter of circulation that determines advertising rates, and
it is advertisement that suppors the paper, all depends in he last
analysis upon the support that Negroes give their own press.
Even if the Negroes do not care to read their own papers,
hey should buy them none the less.