‘Keeping the Main Thing, the Main Thing’: Our Mission in a Democracy Under Siege

Mr. John Sengstacke, part owner and general manager of the Chicago Defender, one of the leading Negro newspapers (Photo Credit: Library of Congress). We African Americans have these proverbs that, when uttered, are universally understood among us.& A well-known one is, “Keep the main thing, the main thing.” Having the humbling honor of serving as the Managing Editor of The Chicago Defender, one of the most historic publications in the country, it is incumbent upon me to remain unwaveringly conscientious of how we report the news to our audience.& The Black Press: A Tradition Rooted in Resistance Freedom’s Journal, Vol. 1 No. 1, March 16, 1827. Source: Library of Congress When John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish founded Freedom’s Journal, the first African-American-owned and operated newspaper in the U.S., in 1827, its purpose was to empower and educate freed Black people. During its two-year existence, it spoke out against the practice of slavery and advocated for Black people’s political rights, including our right to vote. As journalist and educator Nicole Carr pointed out, the Freedom’s Journal laid the blueprint for the Black Press’s ultimate mission: employing journalism for the benefit of Black people and highlighting injustices that ultimately affect a healthy...