Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1940-03-22
Abbott of the Defender

written the past weeks
the Nations Abbott editor and publisher
Chicago characteristic of us humans many OF
Abbott left unsad until was too late Tor
and them However believe the day not
far distant people the fine things about their leaders,
friends individuals hear and fully appreciate the
praise -
who did need praise the paud
him his duty AS the countrys No Negro
journalist exeed the thinking OF the masses OF
Negroes any individual His the first Negro journal
appeal he used its influence not for selfish pu
poses, but fol good of the Negro American
Negro newspaper everywhere him debt for his
earned better wages attracted better trained
men journalism The public received better news
papers, better equipment The reading public in turn
responded greater appreciation for the Negro press
Many people of Abbotts early days. the days when he
carried his selling from house house
Stories and Pigments OF healthy magnauons
have been told of early struggles If all the people who KNEW him
when were stood up shoulder they would probably stretch
from the Pacifc Around all great such stories
grow up Sitting such the natural concu
sion that the Chicago had hard struggle get his
paper and harder struggle to keep before them
and create a business to insure its continuance
One the things Defender under Abbott did to make
both the Negro people cogzant of grow
inc acia solidarity Abbos flaming headlines ynchngs
did more to curb other single factor The crashing
detailing Negroes which screamed across the
front of dav newspapers years. grew number as
Negro the Defender began give the des
sensaonam by using urd headlines to tell the
60 ~ crimes committed bv whites against Negroes dis
continued generally habit building into headlines the smallest
alleged coed AbbOtts Defender stopped that prac
tce
When Robert urged living under terrific
prejudice the southland politicians
faced with losing the almost veabor OF thousands
Defender practically
sections of the south 1t was necessary 70
through Negro Pullman porters
their the to the people who want
which helped start the huge migration OF
from this attack
on the Suth Negroes that the Defender got its
reputation as an agaor AnNegro southern whites faced with
more Negro inspired by which dared challenge
the reaent of patriotic citizens, mmed
tey sought ways and Robert Abbo influence
So they decided pin label of "agaOr" the Defender Inn
mdaey thousands of Negroes took the refrain and
Negroes who would not think Tor themselves ecned the
myth that the Chicago Defender was nothing but an ole
Through antagonm depression ungraeuness OF ms
public reachery Of of his friends Robert Aooot Ill from
Defenders flag at the top Of the pole
publishers of Negro followed closely IN the paths OF
the Chicago publisher and the Negro began to by leaps
hounds until community Of size America which
does active Negro journal Those which have been the
those which have adopted the militant
less and aggressive policy of Robert s. Abbott
critics. most of whom did not know what they
were talking He probably had faults do but
thew outweghed his his people, his profession
and the country onged have democratic practice as well
theory