The Philadelphia Tribune

The Philadelphia Tribune

Type	African-American daily
Owner(s)	The Philadelphia Tribune Company, Inc.
Founder(s)	Christopher James Perry, Sr.
President	Robert W. Bogle
Editor	Irv Randolph
Founded	November 27, 1884 (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
Website	phillytrib.com
Media of the United States List of newspapers

Modern image of the Philadelphia Tribune building at 520 South 16th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Tribune Historical Marker

The Philadelphia Tribune is the oldest continuously published African-American newspaper in the United States.

The paper began in 1884 when Christopher J. Perry published its first copy. Throughout its history, The Philadelphia Tribune has been committed to the social, political, and economic advancement of African Americans in the Greater Philadelphia region. During a time when African Americans struggled for equality, the Tribune acted as the "Voice of the black community" for Philadelphia. Historian V. P. Franklin asserted that the Tribune "was (and is) an important Afro-American cultural institution that embodied the predominant cultural values of upper-, middle-, and lower-class Black Philadelphians."

In the early 21st century, the paper is headquartered at 520 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It publishes on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. The Philadelphia Tribune also publishes the Tribune Magazine, Entertainment Now, Sojourner, The Learning Key, and The Sunday Tribune. The Tribune serves the Philadelphia–Camden Metro Area, as well as Chester. The Tribune has received the John B. Russwurm award as "Best Newspaper" in the country seven times since 1995.

Christopher James Perry

Main article: Christopher J. Perry

Christopher James Perry Sr. (September 11, 1854 – May 15, 1921) was an African American journalist and the founder of The Philadelphia Tribune (formerly The Tribune). Perry began writing for local Philadelphia newspapers such as the Sunday Mercury. However, in 1884, the Sunday Mercury went bankrupt and Perry was without a job.

Later that year on November 27, 1884, Perry began his own newspaper entitled The Philadelphia Tribune. He ran the operation as the owner, reporter, editor, copier, and advertiser. Perry worked on the Tribune until his death in 1921. Throughout his career with the Tribune, Perry promoted the advancement of African Americans in society and covered issues affecting their daily lives.

History

Beginnings

An image from Garland Penn's book The Afro-American Press and Its Editors

When the Tribune began publication in 1884, it was a weekly, one-page paper, publishing from 725 Sansom Street. Despite the challenges black businesses faced during the late nineteenth century, especially in journalism, the Tribune enjoyed unusual success during its early years, and it averaged 3,225 copies weekly by 1887. In 1891, Perry and the Tribune received national recognition when Garland Penn, a prominent advocate for African-American journalism, praised the Philadelphia newspaper in his book The Afro-American Press and Its Editors. In his book, Penn complimented the Tribune's consistency and reliability. However, the Tribune was not the only African-American newspaper circulating in Philadelphia at the time. The Tribune competed against other African-American newspapers during its first few decades, such as The Philadelphia Standard Echo, The Philadelphia Sentinel, The Philadelphia Defender, and The Courant. But by 1900, the Tribune became the leading voice of Black Philadelphia, and W. E. B. Du Bois referred to it as "the chief news-sheet" in the city.

Post-Reconstruction migration

After Reconstruction ended in 1877, many African Americans from the South migrated to northern cities in search of a better life. The city went through a fundamental transformation as African Americans flooded the city looking for jobs. Racial tensions divided Philadelphia as the new black migrants crowded neighborhoods and competed with Whites for jobs, including Irish immigrants and, increasingly, other European immigrants. During the migration, Perry and The Tribune served as an outlet to educate and inform black Philadelphians, and it helped the new migrants adjust to their new city. It covered job openings, civic affairs, social events, and church news. Rather than just report the news, the Tribune committed itself to helping to improve the standard of living for African Americans in Philadelphia. The Tribune openly supported and advertised civic groups such as The Armstrong Association, Negro Migration Committee, and the National Urban League of Philadelphia in order to combat the increasing discrimination found within the city.

Great Migration

Great Migration urban populations

Beginning about 1910, a new wave of black migrants moved to Philadelphia, as part of the Great Migration from the rural South to northern and midwestern industrial cities. The expansion of railroads drew many new workers. After World War I began, industries began to recruit blacks as whites were drafted into the military. The city was crowded and new migrants moved into white neighborhoods, resulting in violent reactions in working-class areas. White mobs formed to intimidate black families. In 1914, a white mob attacked and destroyed the new home of a black woman, but the Philadelphia Department of Public Safety failed to investigate the crime and no white newspapers reported the incident. The managing editor of the Tribune, G. Grant Williams, reported the case and encouraged African Americans to join the police force and become part of shaping the city.

The newspaper worked with the Colored Protective Association to help defend African Americans who were unfairly arrested. Williams also wrote articles on how to protect community women from racial violence, as well as giving advice on morals and values. As a way to create a cultural identity and unity among blacks in the city, the Tribune publicized free lectures and invited respected church leaders to write columns for the paper.

As white men left the city for war assignments in Europe, industrial jobs opened up for African Americans and the Tribune covered the job market. However, after the war ended in 1918, white veterans returned and competed fiercely with African Americans for jobs in the post-war recession. Racial riots broke out in the summer of 1919 in many industrial cities. Since White men appeared more qualified for work, the Tribune spent the 1920s encouraging African Americans to receive an education or learn a trade at an industrial school.

By 1920, the Tribune was distributing 20,000 newspapers weekly and had earned a reputation as one of the top African-American newspapers in the country. In 1921, its founder and chief editor Christopher Perry died; he was succeeded by G. Grant Williams. Williams died in June 1922. Eugene Washington Rhodes became the managing editor, serving for more than two decades until 1944. Under Rhodes, the Tribune went through aesthetic enhancements as the print size and column size grew larger. Despite an increase in cost, the Tribune remained a hot seller.

The Great Depression and New Deal

In April 1929, months before the Stock Market Crash, Philadelphia's black unemployment rate was 45 percent higher than white unemployment. During the Great Depression, African Americans in Philadelphia and throughout the country suffered higher levels of unemployment due to their lack of skills and qualifications. Rhodes and the Tribune wrote articles to help African Americans improve their standard of living during the difficult times. The newspaper provided information on relief help by advertising black social organizations, churches, and schools. Also, by 1930, Tribune and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) of Philadelphia would report unfair employment practices by local businesses, and the negative publicity would pressure the businesses into reassessing their hiring process.

When Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced his New Deal program in 1933, the Tribune covered the new federal relief agencies and exposed the discrimination some of the programs practiced against African Americans. Although Roosevelt and the New Deal aimed to assist struggling Americans, the Tribune faced a political dilemma. Historically, the Tribune had supported the Republican Party because of its ties to Abraham Lincoln and the Abolitionists. In order to keep Republicans in control of local and State politics, Rhodes and the Tribune remained loyal to the party of Lincoln and criticized Roosevelt and his Democratic Party. The confusing message the Tribune offered allowed other African-American newspapers in Philadelphia to gain readers. In 1935, the Philadelphia Independent openly supported Roosevelt and the Democrats, and surpassed the Tribune as the most popular African-American newspaper in Philadelphia with 30,000 weekly subscribers. In the mid-1930s, Rhodes introduced new elements to the paper as a way to gain more readers. He added an editorial that showcased African-American achievements and also a comic strip to the weekly paper. However, some argue Rhodes used these new elements to promote middle-class values that reflected the principles of the Republican Party.

Sponsored Basketball

The rise of women's basketball in Philadelphia came when many young African American women moved to the city from the south due to the Great Migration. Teams loosely organized based on neighborhood or local YWCA that sponsored educational classes and athletic teams to team the migrant's new skills.

During the Great Depression in 1931 The Tribune, who had long been an advocate of athletics, decided to organize a women's basketball team. The Tribune had been covering women's sports for over a decade and been sponsoring a men's basketball team since the fall of 1929.

On November 13, 1931, the Philadelphia Tribune Newsgirls made their debut at the Catherine Street YWCA in Philadelphia. The starting five for the Newsgirls consisted of Ruth Lockley, Ann Carrington, Rose Wilson, Louise Hall and Louise "Dick" Hill. The pinnacle of the Newsgirls first season game in the city Championship against the German Town Hornets. The Newsgirls' record for their first season was 31-5 and also won the National Colored Championship title. The Newsgirls picked up Ora Washington, the greatest performer in the woman's ranks, to play for the next season. The Tribune Girls continued to dominate woman's basketball for the next several years.

The Newsgirls went onto win several city and national championships in their eleven-year existence from 1931 to 1942. Otto Briggs had to resign from his position in the Tribune due to his declining health. Robert Bryant became the new coach for the 1941–42 season. Bryant was an ordained minister and was then called to serve as an army chaplain. The Tribune girls continued their season, unfortunately becoming the last season the Tribune girls would play. Eventually, head coach Otto Briggs died on October 27, 1943. His death, coupled with the changing interest of the reading publics away from basketball and into World War 2 content killed off one of the most successful African American women's basketball team ever. Otto Briggs left his mark on African American women's basketball by using the Philadelphia Tribune to promote sport.

The Tribune Girls implemented innovative training techniques that emphasized both physical conditioning and strategic gameplay, setting them apart from other teams of the era. Their rigorous practice schedules and focus on teamwork contributed significantly to their impressive winning record and sustained dominance in women's basketball. They dismissed a common racist idea of the time that black athletes were subpar in performance to white athletes. In addition to their on-court success, the Tribune Girls became pioneers in advocating for equal opportunities in sports, inspiring other African American women to pursue athletics professionally. The team also established strong community ties organizing events and workshops that encouraged youth participation in basketball and promoted healthy lifestyles. Their legacy is remembered not only through their championship titles but also through the lasting impact they had on promoting diversity and inclusion within the sport.

The Tribune Girls’ success was not just a reflection of their athletic skill but also of the cultural and social dynamics of the time. According to Separate Games, the team's existence coincided with a broader movement for African American women's rights and visibility, and they were part of a growing push to challenge the racial and gender barriers in sports. The Tribune Newsgirls were one of the first women's teams to receive sustained media attention from a major African American newspaper, which helped elevate their status within the African American community and beyond. Additionally, the Tribune Girls' dominance on the court helped shift perceptions of African American women, demonstrating that they could excel in competitive sports traditionally dominated by white athletes.

Coach Otto Briggs, a former player and organizer with deep roots in Philadelphia's African American community, used his platform at the Tribune not only to build a competitive team but also to create opportunities for other African American women in sports. The team's success, particularly in national championships, was a powerful statement against the prevailing racial stereotypes of the time, proving that African American athletes, particularly women, could achieve excellence at the highest levels.

Coach Otto Briggs' involvement with the Tribune Newsgirls was a natural extension of the paper's longstanding support for African American sports. As a key figure in the team's rise to prominence, Briggs helped shift the cultural perception of African American women in competitive sports, challenging the stereotype that Black athletes were inferior to their white counterparts. In addition to their athletic achievements, the team's success highlighted the intersection of race and gender, demonstrating that African American women could excel at the highest levels of competition. The Tribune Newsgirls were not just a team, but also a vehicle for social change, and their success helped pave the way for future generations of Black athletes to gain recognition and opportunities in sports.

Civil rights

During the 1920s, after John Asbury and Andrew Stevens became the first African Americans elected to the Pennsylvania State legislature, the Tribune increased its political activity in the city. In 1921, when the State legislature introduced an Equal Rights Bill, the Tribune reported which representatives opposed it. The paper remained a strong advocate for the bill until 1935, when Pennsylvania passed a state Equal Rights Bill.

Also during the 1920s and 1930s, the Tribune played a monumental role in officially ending segregation in Philadelphia schools. Upset over the Philadelphia School Board's lack of action to end segregation, the Tribune organized the Defense Fund Committee in 1926. It collected funds to support a court challenge to the school board. By 1932, the Tribune succeeded in gaining appointment of African Americans to the School Board, which eventually ended segregation in Philadelphia's public schools.

Thanks to the Tribune's coverage of and coalition with the NAACP, Philadelphia captured national attention in 1965 when demonstrators protested to end segregation at Girard College. It had been established as a high school to educate poor boys in the city but historically had admitted only whites. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Philadelphia, strengthening the city and the Tribune's connection to the national civil rights movement.

See also

• List of newspapers in Pennsylvania

Sources

• Banner-Haley, Charles Pete (Spring 1998). "The Philadelphia Tribune and the Persistence of Black Republicanism during the Great Depression". Pennsylvania History. 65 (2): 190–202. JSTOR 27774100.
• Franklin, V. P. (October 1984). ""Voice of the Black Community:" The Philadelphia Tribune, 1912–41". Pennsylvania History. 51 (4): 261–284. JSTOR 27773002.
• Taylor, Frederick Jerome (1990). "Black Musicians in "The Philadelphia Tribune", 1912–20". The Black Perspective in Music. 18 (1/2): 127–140. doi:10.2307/1214862. JSTOR 1214862.

External links

• Official website
• West Chester University, Goin' North: Stories from the First Great Migration to Philadelphia, 2014.