Still, the pressure of operating a newspaper isn’t lost on publishers like Richards of the 57-year-old Houston Forward Times.
Richards took over after the death of her mother, Lenora “Doll” Carter, whom she shadowed at the paper for more than 30 years.
“The business isn’t for the faint of heart and being a female publisher requires you to be even stronger,” Richards said. “Because of what my mother taught me, Forward Times Publishing Company has grown to become a multimedia company and award-winning national publication.”
Chida Warren-Darby, managing editor and co-publisher of the “Voice & Viewpoint”
in San Diego, said that being a female publisher has proven to be an “amazing experience.”
Warren-Darby also offered advice to the next generation of women.
“[Women publishers] should always remain true to themselves and never conform. There’s a lot of authenticity missing in the world of journalism and the media industry as a whole,” Warren-Darby said. “I believe it’s slowly returning, but it will take the next generation to maintain that authenticity. I would also encourage them to know that their voices and ideas matter, to never underestimate what they bring to the table, and to never feel like it’s too late.”
Others have spelled out what the Black Press has brought to the table.
“The New York Times” noted that, well before the Civil War, publications and, more recently, radio and television stations owned and operated by African-Americans have provided an important counterweight to mainstream media, simultaneously celebrating and shaping Black culture—from politics and government to fashion and music.
It all starts with the Black Press and many of its talented and savvy female publishers.
“The Black Press has been the heartbeat of Black America since its inception,” said Tatum, publisher and editor-in-chief of the New York Amsterdam News, one of the most influential Black-owned and operated media businesses in the world, which ran its first edition in 1909. “From the abolition movement, to the Civil Rights movement to the Women’s Rights movement, the Black Press has been our voice, a voice not heralded anywhere else.”
Tatum continued: “A voice so true to itself that our community still heeds the call today. A voice in many cases owned by women, run by women and nurtured by women.”
About 190 miles south of New York, Bramble founded The Baltimore Times on the premise that they’d publish only positive stories about Black people. After more than 30 years, Bramble said that The Baltimore Times paper, and its companion, “The Annapolis Times,” haven’t wavered.
“I am extremely proud to be a part of the long tradition of respected women publishers. My challenges as a publisher have not come from my gender, but rather my race,” Bramble said. “Black newspapers must jump through ridiculous hoops to receive or even be considered for advertising and promotional dollars.”
Women are changing the world and represent an important audience that should not be taken for granted, said Natalie Cole, publisher and CEO of “OurWeekly Los Angeles” which was formed in 2004 and boasts a readership of more than 200,000 weekly.
“As an African-American woman publisher, readers and investors and supporters should not get caught up on my ethnicity as the driving force to their decisions as to do so would be to sell themselves short,” Cole said. “Therefore, the challenges that exist today are challenges to doing business successfully in our global marketplace. Yes, racism and, in many cases institutional racism is evident…some will never buy what we are selling.”
Cole continued: “However, we must continue to educate our loyal readers as to major players or companies that support our communities as well as those that don’t support us with an emphasis on companies to which African-Americans are their core customers.”
With the diligence of the NNPA member papers, news, information and commentary have been delivered each week to more than 20 million readers.
Since, its founding, the NNPA has been lauded for consistently being the voice of the Black community, reporting news that makes history.
“Our papers are trusted, read from cover to cover and are a vital part of the community—190 years and still going strong,” Bramble said. “I am sure that we will still be around another 190 years, as we continue to be the standard bearer for all the good news that’s happening in our communities.”
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Black women publishers drive the Black Press
