www.mississippilink.com VOL. 23, NO. 23 MARCH 30 - APRIL 5, 2017 50¢ Paula Bass: a woman running with a God-given vision-turned-mission ‘From Widow to Winner’ – the Jackson, Miss. efforts By Gail H. M. Brown “… Write the vision; make pointed time; it hastens to Contributing Writer it plain on tablets, so he the end – it will not lie. If The scripture teaches in may run who reads it. For Habakkuk 2:2-3 (ESV) – still the vision awaits its ap- Bass Continued on page 3 Dorothy Stewart, founder of Women for Black women publishers Progress, Inc. By Janice K. Neal-Vincent drive the Black Press Contributing Writer All her life Dorothy Stewart By Stacy M. Brown and television stations owned has heard the voices of her an- NNPA News Wire Contributor and operated by African Ameri- cestors and has carried the torch In 1827, with the publication cans have provided an important of excellence. She learned from of the Freedom’s Journal, John counterweight to mainstream me- her parents to pay attention to Russwurm and Reverend Samuel dia, simultaneously celebrating the signs of the time and to take Cornish established the Black and shaping black culture – from away their subliminal and bla- Press and boldly declared their politics and government to fash- tant messages. She learned to mission: to be the voice of the ion and music. be comfortable in her own skin African-American community, It all starts with the Black Press and to encourage others to do standing up for victims of injus- and many of its talented and sav- the same. So when she founded tice and championing the unsung. vy female publishers. Women for Progress in 1978, Dedicated, resilient and strong “The Black Press has been she was determined to let that black women, who account for the heartbeat of black America overall message of self-worthi- Stewart a significant number of the 211 since its inception,” said Tatum, ness stand. African-American owned news- publisher and editor-in-chief of Stewart stated in the comfort the rationale for an election at papers and media companies the New York Amsterdam News, of her home, “I’ve been doing JSU don’t look like us (blacks) that are members of the National Rolark-Barnes one of the most influential black- what I’ve been doing since I because they are focusing on Newspaper Publishers Associa- owned and operated media busi- was ten years old. Others guid- dollar signs.” Stewart reckoned tion (NNPA), stand at the fore- tion’s secretary. “The business isn’t for the nesses in the world, which ran its ed me in life and created a path that since JSU has over 7,000 front of that mission, today. “For the Black Press, Women’s faint of heart and being a female first edition in 1909. “From the for me. I and my parents cared students, there is power in that As Women’s History Month History Month becomes more publisher requires you to be even abolition movement to the Civil for a handicapped brother. I was particular number to make concludes, NNPA President and noteworthy, because of the wom- stronger,” Richards said. “Be- Rights Movement to the Wom- born colored in a racist Miss. I things happen. CEO Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., said en of the NNPA and their very cause of what my mother taught en’s Rights Movement, the Black learned that here people only Looking back, the outspoken that it’s important to recognize important roles,” Chavis said. me, Forward Times Publishing Press has been our voice, a voice saw color.” leader recollected that unity publishers like Rosetta Miller- Jackie Hampton, publisher of Company has grown to become not heralded anywhere else.” During her childhood, the prevailed within the communi- Perry of The Tennessee Tribune, The Mississippi Link in Jackson, a multimedia company and an Tatum continued: “It’s a voice giant among many learned the ty. “JPS was the most powerful, Elinor Tatum of the New York Mississippi serves on both the award-winning national publica- so true to itself, that our com- stench of oppression. “Dealing largest school district and best Amsterdam News, Janis Ware of NNPA and NNPA Foundation tion.” munity still heeds the call today. with a lack of opportunity for ranked in the state. Then the The Atlanta Voice, Joy Bramble Board of Directors. “Black news- Chida Warren-Darby, the man- A voice in many cases owned by blacks, through no fault of their court ruled that JPS had to be of The Baltimore Times, Brenda papers are more important today aging editor and co-publisher of women, run by women and nur- own, was a handicap. When desegregated. We all, like sac- Andrews of the The New Journal than ever before, as mainstream the Voice & Viewpoint in San Di- tured by women.” my mother needed something rificial lambs, had to transfer. and Guide and the many black papers have reduced coverage of ego, said that being a female pub- About 190 miles south of New and was refused it, the answer When I transferred to Provine, women that own and operate community stories, she said. “The lisher has proven to be an amaz- York, Bramble founded The Bal- was always the same: ‘She’s many of the teachers lived in the media companies in the United Black Press is the vanguard for ing experience. timore Times on the premise that colored.’ The fight my mother neighborhood. Then gradually, States and around the world. black Americans, their source of Warren-Darby also offered they’d publish only positive sto- fought to get help for a crippled that changed.” Chavis said that it’s also im- positive and hard hitting news... advice to the next generation of ries about black people. After child took a lot of courage, and The change, Stewart reflect- portant to acknowledge the role stories that are overlooked by women. more than 30 years, Bramble said passion for her to go through ed, produced a divided commu- that women play as leaders of the corporate controlled papers.” “[Women publishers] should that The Baltimore Times paper, the powers that be, and she did nity. Despite great students and NNPA. Rosetta Miller-Perry, publisher always remain true to themselves and its companion, The Annapo- it, not knowing what the results great teachers, the high-esteem “Four of the five members of of The Tennessee Tribune and and never conform. There’s a lis Times, haven’t wavered. would be,” she reminisced. factor began to decline. People the NNPA executive commit- treasurer of the NNPA Foundation, lot of authenticity missing in the “I am extremely proud to be The driving force instilled who went to church in their tee are women and, in 2017, that said Freedon’s Journal showed in world of journalism and the me- a part of the long tradition of re- in Stewart was to make things community now attend other shows that the NNPA, as a na- 1827 that there was a need and dia industry as a whole,” Warren- spected women publishers. My different. It is no wonder then churches. The sense of pride the tional trade organization, is out audience for black owned publica- Darby said. “I believe it’s slowly challenges as a publisher have not that the purpose of Women for community once felt no longer front of all other organizations tions, with blacks telling their own returning, but it will take the next come from my gender, but rather Progress is to help people un- exists. when it comes to putting women stories and covering events and generation to maintain it. I would my race,” Bramble said. “Black derstand their roles as citizens. “We need more people who in the top positions,” said Chavis. personalities that mainstream me- also encourage them to know newspapers must jump through “Technically you already have are concerned about our com- Denise Rolark-Barnes, pub- dia overlooked and undervalued.” that their voices and ideas matter, ridiculous hoops to receive or the power and must see your- munity. We need to know our lisher of The Washington In- Still, the pressure of operating a never underestimate what they even be considered for advertis- self having the power. I hate lives matter because as Lance former, is chair of the NNPA; newspaper isn’t lost on publishers bring to the table, and never feel ing and promotional dollars.” to hear leaders say, ‘We just Fuller said in one of his poems, Karen Carter-Richards, publisher like Carter-Richards of the 57-year- like it’s too late.” Women are changing the world don’t have the power.’ When ‘You do not know the power of of the Houston Forward Times old Houston Forward Times. Others have spelled out what and represent an important audi- we started Women for Progress, your black hands,’” the motiva- is first vice chair; Atlanta Voice Carter-Richards took over the the Black Press has brought to the ence that should not be taken for we worked with former Sena- tor quipped. publisher Janis Ware is treasurer; Forward Times after the death of table. granted, said Natalie Cole, pub- tor Henry Kirksey because we and Shannon Williams, president her mother, Lenora “Doll” Carter, The New York Times noted that, were involved in an election. Stewart and general manager of the India- whom she shadowed for more well before the Civil War, publi- Women publishers than 30 years. cations and, more recently, radio The only people who can’t see Continued on page 3 napolis Recorder, is the organiza- Continued on page 3 NNPA publishers convene in D.C.