Ida B. Wells-Barnett: Leaving A Legacy

Ida B. Wells-Barnett, an influential woman, born from slave parents made a voice through her writings. Educated from Fisk University in Nashville Tennessee, she not only was an activist, she was also a teacher after the death of her parents.
A woman of social justice, she made known of the racial and politics in the South.

The turning point in which started her path to righteousness.... a journalist and activist 

The year 1884 started Ida B. Wells on her way to social justice. Being booted off a train from refusal to sit in the African American section, her case went through trial succeeded and then failed due to the supreme court. Her writings of issues on race and politics in the South blossomed in the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight, and later the Free Speech newspapers/periodicals that she owned. A vocal critic in the "black only" public schools in the city, and a writer of articles about the lynching of her friend brought Ida B. Wells to gather information from all over the South, although with threats to her life. This brought her to New York where she wrote for the New York Age and worked hand in hand with Frederick Douglas and William Mckinley.

Creating a Legacy 

Not only was Ida B. Wells-Burnett a vocal and expressive activist, she was also a creator, leaving behind several civil rights organizations. In being a part of the National Equal Rights League, she created the first African American kindergarten in her community and fought proudly for woman suffrage. Ida B. Wells-Burnett died on March 25th, 1931 from kidney disease with leaving her legacy as an influential journalist and activist.

Claude Barnett: The Original Newsman

Claude Barnett

Claude Barnett was an African American journalist known for creating "The Associated Negro Press". His publication last from 1919 to 1967. He was one of the most influential African Americans during the 1930's, and he served as a consultant to the United States Agriculture Department.

Personal Life

Barnett was born on September 16 1889 in Sanford, Florida to William Barnett and Celena Anderson. He then moved to Matton, Illinois to live with his grandmother. That is where he lived and went to school. In 1904 went to college at Tuskegee Institute. He graduated two years later in 1906. He died at the age of 78 due to cerebral hemorrhage. He died in his house on August 2 1967.

His newspaper

In 1913 Barnett started by reproducing photos of notable black people, and sold them. By 1917 his services became so popular that he had a thriving business dealing with mail in orders. He then went around the country to promote his photographs, catering mainly to a black audience. While advertising in mainly black newspapers he noticed a common trend, which is that they needed more substantive news. This caused him to create The Associated Negro Press, and it's main goal was to provide reliable and steady stream of news to news outlets. At first he bartered the news in exchange for advertising space, but he soon got a team of "stingers" who helped him get interesting news stories. He went on to charge $25 a week to provide news papers with the latest news.

Struggles and Difficulties

The most obvious difficulty Barnett faced was racism, there is a reason his business only catered to newspapers that catered to an African American community. In his travels he spoke of how racism affected his ability to gather news, and he often talked about the adverse affects of segregation. He also focused on the terrible living conditions of African Americans farmers that were tenants.

Claude Barnett: Revolutionizing African American Press

The Early Years

Claude Barnett was born in 1889 in Sanford, FL. After moving around to Illinois, he ultimately went on to college at the prestigious Tuskegee University graduating in 2 years with the universities highest award. After graduating in 1906 he went on to work for the postal service in Chicago.

The Development of His Career

Due to the nature of Barnett's career he had the ability to read many newspapers and magazines leading to his fascination in advertising. This interest led him to partner with a cosmetic firm, serving as their advertising manager. He focused on marketing in mainly African American newspapers and felt they had a lack of real news to report. As a result, Barnett decided to start the Associated Negro Press changing the face of African American press in America.

Changing the face of American press

In the beginning of its creating the ANP utilized the reports of other newspapers, however, Barnett eventually built his own team of reporters who were providing stories for newspapers across the country for up to 25$. At their peak the ANP was being used by over 200 newspapers including those over seas in Africa and the West Indies. The creation of this groundbreaking news wire service, is what truly separated Barnett from other notable African Americans in journalism. 

  

Anne O'Hare McCormick- Changing the 'Times' Forever

Anne Elizabeth O'Hare McCormick is famously known now as the first female to be a part of the editorial board for The New York Times. Prompting her to be the first female to win a Pulitzer prize for journalism.

Early Life

McCormick was born in May of 1882 in Wakefield, England. In her early childhood, her parents brought her to the United States where she attended college of St. Mary's in Columbus, Ohio.

Her Writing Career
She spent some time as editor for Catholic Universe Weekly, and then did some freelance work including poem and article contributions to magazines. After sending dispatches to The New York Times, she eventually became a regular corespondent.

Changing the Game
It seemed that McCormick always showed up to the right place at the right time, which is how she heavily got into reports on political crises and developments, including interviews with important figures- establishing her as "one of the most perspicacious observers on the European continent."

Eventually she got to sit on the board of the Times, making her the first female to sit on the boar as well as to win a Pulitzer.

If men could menstruate: Gloria Steinem feminist game changer.

Controversial articles on contraception, being a playboy bunny, and abortion

Gloria Steinem gained her rise to prominence in the sixties and seventies as a journalist promoting the women's liberation movement. Her first big article was based on contraception and how women were forced to choose between careers and families. She went on to cover very controversial topics such as abortion, and received positive as well as incredibly negative feedback, including threats on her life.

 She has written extensively about feminism, the feminist movement, and women's rights and inequalities.

Including several books, my personal favorite
"Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions"(1983), is a collection of her essays ranging from becoming a playboy bunny to her hilarious take on if men menstruated how the world would work. She continues to write and occasionally serves as an editor at Ms. Magazine which she co-founded in 1972. Her work continues to confront the inequalities women face on a daily basis.
 

Ida B. Wells-Barnett-African American Journalist and Activist

Ida B. Wells-Barnett was born on July 16, 1862 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Her father was a skilled carpenter and her mother was cook. Ida's parents were very strict and religious. They took education seriously and wanted their children to take advantage of having the opportunity to go to school. 

Ida's struggles with racial discrimination caused her devote her life to eliminating this inequality. 

At the age of 14, Ida's parents and little brother died from yellow fever. To keep her family together, Ida took a teaching job and attending Rust College to further her education. In 1884, Ida was 

forcefully removed from a train due to her race, despite the 1875 Civil Rights Act. This was the first of many racial discrimination acts Ida endured during her life. In 1892, Ida's three friends were lynched, which caused Ida to spend the rest of her life working to end injustice towards colored people. 

Ida's many accomplishments were caused by her strong passion towards ending discrimination.

Later in her career, Ida created an anti-lynching campaign, the National Association of Colored Woman, the national Afro-American Council, and the Women's Era Club. She was a newspaper editor and owner, an African American journalist, a women's rights activist, a skilled rhetorician, and a civil rights leader. 

The Decline of the Participation Gap in the US

There is a significant digital divide and participation gap when it comes to technology but especially with Internet access.  I have been raised through technology and have always had access to the Internet at my own fingertips.  Others are so lucky, low-income families and immigrants have a harder time with access to the Internet.  Data collected in 2000 showed that 54 million or 51 percent of households in the US had one or more computers.  Low-income families have to go somewhere such as a library to get Internet access and don’t have easy access to get there.  Because the cost of computers is so high and the rates on Internet suppliers are also so high, families aren’t able to budget their money to afford it.  The digital divide I believe is gradually decreasing because the access to Internet is becoming easier because of smart phones, tablets, and computers.  More and more people are able to afford these technologies because the wide range of prices and choices.  People can buy used computers or phones for cheap and therefore they have an easy access to the Internet.  Even though I believe the gap is getting smaller, it still is very large and it will take some time for the gap to close. 

  

Right now the participation gap is very big.  People use the Internet for a wide variety of reasons.  A huge part of this gap has to do with education and the way you were raised with technology.  More and more schools are implementing the Internet and technology into their criteria and teaching styles.  When I was in elementary and middle school, I took typing classes and learned all different ways to use the Internet and computers.  Some people are as fortunate and do not have this in their schools.  Those who aren’t taught how to use the technologies when they are young are at a disadvantage are likely not to use the Internet or not know the ins and outs of it.  Another large part of the gap is the invention of smartphones.  People who don’t have a smartphone are at an instant disadvantage because they don’t have Internet access at their fingertips at all times and don’t have the ability to get apps.  Also because of privacy reason, people don’t want their personal information getting out on the Internet or someone stealing their identity.  Thus, people are less likely to get apps that have low security or seem sketchy. 

            Looking at the future, I believe the participation gap will rapidly become smaller.  Technologies are becoming so easy to access and almost all schools have computers and Internet access so that they can teach their students how to use it.  Smartphones and tablets are become less expensive and more people can afford them.  These devices allow people to access the Internet and extend the uses of the Internet.  People are going to use the Internet and technologies in different ways, some people are more advanced and others don’t know how to use them at all.  But in the future everyone will know how to use these technologies and internet access will become more and more available.