Black Baptist women built community through a network of denomination-owned newspapers

Evidence

The black press served an important function in fostering an “imagined” racial community and women’s community. In 1887 black Baptists published forty newspapers and magazines in various parts of the country—the great majority being in the South. The denominational press reported both religious and secular events at the local, state, and national levels. Articles covered such topics as the relation between religion and business, black history, upcoming political events, protests against lynching and disfranchisement, announcements and coverage of meetings, reprints from white newspapers, theological essays, foreign mission news, and reviews of women’s subjects. … Through black Baptist-owned newspapers women affirmed their bond with one another, informed readers of their goals and periodic meetings, and featured news of general interest to their sex. — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent, 371

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Black Baptist women’s organizations gained press influence through their own newspapers. — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent: The Women’s…, 379; Black Baptist newspapers ran routine domestic columns aimed at women readers — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent: The Women’s…, 372; Women’s collective labor, not just exceptional preachers, powered black Baptist churches — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent: The Women’s…, 40 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Black Baptist women’s organizations gained press influence through their own newspapers. #corroborates (0.95) — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent, 379
• Black Baptist newspapers ran routine domestic columns aimed at women readers #expands (0.82) — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent, 372
• Black Baptist women prized institutions owned and staffed by their own race #qualifies (0.78) — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent, 308
• Women’s collective labor, not just exceptional preachers, powered black Baptist churches #expands (0.75) — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent, 40