The defender : how the legendary Black newspaper changed America : from the age of the Pullman porters to the age of Obama

**“An extraordinary history...Deeply researched, elegantly written...a towering achievement that will not be soon forgotten.”** —**Brent Staples, __New York Times Book Review__****NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY __The New York Times Book Review • The Washington Post • Amazon__** Giving voice to the voiceless, the __Chicago Defender__ condemned Jim Crow, catalyzed the Great Migration, and focused the electoral power of black America. Robert S. Abbott founded __The Defender__ in 1905, smuggled hundreds of thousands of copies into the most isolated communities in the segregated South, and was dubbed a "Modern Moses," becoming one of the first black millionaires in the process. His successor wielded the newspaper’s clout to elect mayors and presidents, including Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy, who would have lost in 1960 if not for __The____Defender__’s support. Along the way, its pages were filled with columns by legends like Ida B. Wells, Langston Hughes, and Martin Luther King. Drawing on dozens of interviews and extensive archival research, Ethan Michaeli constructs a revelatory narrative of race in America and brings to life the reporters who braved lynch mobs and policemen’s clubs to do their jobs, from the age of Teddy Roosevelt to the age of Barack Obama. The Story Of The Chicago Defender Is The Story Of Race In The Twentieth Century. -- Alex Kotlowitz, Author Of There Are No Children Here Giving Voice To The Voiceless, The Chicago Defender Condemned Jim Crow, Catalyzed The Great Migration, And Focused The Electoral Power Of Black America. Robert S. Abbott Founded The Defender In 1905, Smuggled Hundreds Of Thousands Of Copies Into The Most Isolated Communities In The Segregated South, And Was Dubbed A Modern Moses, Becoming One Of The First Black Millionaires In The Process. His Successor Wielded The Newspaper's Clout To Elect Mayors And Presidents, Including Harry S. Truman And John F. Kennedy, Who Would Have Lost In 1960 If Not For The Defender's Support. Along The Way, Its Pages Were Filled With Columns By Legends Like Ida B. Wells, Langston Hughes, And Martin Luther King. Drawing On Dozens Of Interviews And Extensive Archival Research, Ethan Michaeli Constructs A Revelatory Narrative Of Race In America And Brings To Life The Reporters Who Braved Lynch Mobs And Policemen's Clubs To Do Their Jobs, From The Age Of Teddy Roosevelt To The Age Of Barack Obama-- Delphi On The Prairie -- A Defender Of His Race -- If You See It In The Defender, It's So -- Getting The South Told -- The Great Northern Drive -- The Greatest Disturbing Element -- The Bond Of Affections -- Reaping The Whirlwind -- Bombing Binga -- Chicago Vindicated -- The Burdens Of The Future -- We'll Take The Sea -- Farewell, Chief -- Victory Through Unity -- Santa Claus And A World War -- Promises Vs. Performance -- The Daily Defender -- One Vote Per Precinct -- A Socratic Gadfly -- A Prayer For Chicago -- A Dark Hour In The Life Of America -- The Last Remains Of Nonviolence -- Victories Are Contagious -- Stick Around For A While -- The Roar Of The El Train. Ethan Michaeli. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. “An extraordinary history...Deeply researched, elegantly written...a towering achievement that will not be soon forgotten.” — Brent Staples, New York Times Book Review NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • The Washington Post • Amazon Giving voice to the voiceless, the Chicago Defender condemned Jim Crow, catalyzed the Great Migration, and focused the electoral power of black America. Robert S. Abbott founded The Defender in 1905, smuggled hundreds of thousands of copies into the most isolated communities in the segregated South, and was dubbed a "Modern Moses," becoming one of the first black millionaires in the process. His successor wielded the newspaper’s clout to elect mayors and presidents, including Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy, who would have lost in 1960 if not for The Defender ’s support. Along the way, its pages were filled with columns by legends like Ida B. Wells, Langston Hughes, and Martin Luther King. Drawing on dozens of interviews and extensive archival research, Ethan Michaeli constructs a revelatory narrative of race in America and brings to life the reporters who braved lynch mobs and policemen’s clubs to do their jobs, from the age of Teddy Roosevelt to the age of Barack Obama. This “extraordinary history” of the influential black newspaper is “deeply researched, elegantly written [and] a towering achievement” (Brent Staples, New York Times Book Review). In 1905, Robert S. Abbott started printing The Chicago Defender, a newspaper dedicated to condemning Jim Crow and encouraging African Americans living in the South to join the Great Migration. Smuggling hundreds of thousands of copies into the most isolated communities in the segregated South, Abbott gave voice to the voiceless, galvanized the electoral power of black America, and became one of the first black millionaires in the process. His successor wielded the newspaper’s clout to elect mayors and presidents, including Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy, who would have lost in 1960 if not for The Defender’s support. Drawing on dozens of interviews and extensive archival research, Ethan Michaeli constructs a revelatory narrative of journalism and race in America, bringing to life the reporters who braved lynch mobs and policemen’s clubs to do their jobs, from the age of Teddy Roosevelt to the age of Barack Obama. “[This] epic, meticulously detailed account not only reminds its readers that newspapers matter, but so do black lives, past and present.” —USA Today ""The story of the Chicago Defender is the story of race in the twentieth century." -- Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here Giving voice to the voiceless, the Chicago Defender condemned Jim Crow, catalyzed the Great Migration, and focused the electoral power of black America. Robert S. Abbott founded The Defender in 1905, smuggled hundreds of thousands of copies into the most isolated communities in the segregated South, and was dubbed a "Modern Moses," becoming one of the first black millionaires in the process. His successor wielded the newspaper's clout to elect mayors and presidents, including Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy, who would have lost in 1960 if not for The Defender's support. Along the way, its pages were filled with columns by legends like Ida B. Wells, Langston Hughes, and Martin Luther King. Drawing on dozens of interviews and extensive archival research, Ethan Michaeli constructs a revelatory narrative of race in America and brings to life the reporters who braved lynch mobs and policemen's clubs to do their jobs, from the age of Teddy Roosevelt to the age of Barack Obama"-- Provided by publisher Draws on interviews and extensive archival research to tell the story of "The Defender," a great black Chicago newspaper whose pages helped elect mayors and presidents and were filled with columns by legends like Ida B. Wells and Martin Luther King