Founded in 1905 by Robert Abbott, the Chicago Defender not only encouraged people to migrate north for a better life and job opportunities, but to fight for their rights once they got there. Reporting on discrimination, segregation, lynching, and political and economic equality, as well as the achievements of African Americans, the slogan of the paper was “American race prejudice must be destroyed.” Circulation grew to more than 250,000 nationwide by the late 1920s, becoming the most popular Black newspaper in the country. The paper’s success resulted in Robert Abbott becoming one of the first African American self-made millionaires. The Chicago Defender ceased publishing its print edition in 2019, but continues as an online publication with almost half a million unique monthly visitors.
Mentioned in the Bessie Coleman profile: https://unladylike2020.com/profile/bessie-coleman/
