The Defender How the Legendary Black Newspaper Changed America" Ethan Michaeli and Brent Staples

Ethan Michaeli a former reporter for "The Defender" (1991-96) just released his book "The Defender: How the Legendary Black Newspaper Changed America."  Michaeli was interviewed by Brent Staples, an editorial writer for the NYT for over 30 years.  Staples' memoir "Parallel Times" received the Anisfeld Wolf Literary Award.  His editorials for the NYT feature articles on politics & social issues.  Michaeli, an author & journalist first worked as an investigative reporter just out of college.  He  left the paper in 1996 and founded the "Residents' Journal,"  written & edited by tenants of Chicago public housing.  The "Residents' Journal" has received national literary honors for journalism & awards for providing training for young journalists. The discussion between Staples & Michaeli was both enlightening & engaging.   "The Defender Newspaper," was founded in 1905 by Robert Abbott.  Its  missions were to employ Black journalists & focus on relevant social issues of the Black American experience.  The impact of "The Defender" was to expose & relentlessly report on heinous, vigilante lynchings, daily life under the Jim Crow south, false accusations against blacks and to influence political leaders for social justice.  The paper applied pressure to integrate the reluctant & racist US Army.  This was not fully implemented until 1949 under Truman.  The Great Migration was to a large extent incurred by the reporting in the paper of job opportunities in the north without sugarcoating the racial hostilities that persisted.  The paper served to register the populace & logistics during the migratory years  (1940's-1970's.)  Michaeli mentioned that a black reporter was first permitted in the white house press conference under FDR. The reporter was John Sengstake who took over "The Defender" in 1940.  Atty Gen Biddle was adamant to blocade blacks from access to the press core but yielded under pressure from FDR who acknowledge the power of the black vote & the readership garnered by "The Defender."  The paper also served to expose segration & restrictions placed upon blacks in America.  I learned that Sec of State, Gen Colin Powell who served with distinction in the military was denied restaurant service in the south in the early 1960's.  The chain of command in the integrated stirred hatred & dissention among white army personnel who fell below black officers in rank.  The Q&A was surprisingly astute for a change.  Michaeli was asked if "The Defender" was ever called before the McCarthy hearings; an interesting question Michaeli was not equipped to answer.  Another audience participant questioned what attributed to the longevity (more than 100 years) of the paper. "Prudence & devoted planning ahead," was Michaeli response.  I was also struck by Staples comment that "history is the only educator - everything else is training."