I wonder if you could consider me a Dusselarian for the influence he has had on my writing this Fall. Once again to your obvious dismay, I will inject his view that a Prime Requisite for all journalists should be helping to give voice to those without. After watching the documentary The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords, seeing the role African American newspapers took in advocating for justice and visibility highlighted a perspective that struck me to the core. Every time I see an example of blatant racism from our nation’s sorted history, I want to scream from rooftops until everyone has been taught the truth, beginning with the first slave landing in Jamestown in 1619 until today. Before I devote the rest of this post to altering my position on the Online News Associations DIY Code of Ethics, I will focus on expressing my praise for the journalists who gave voice to those who needed it most instilling pride and respect in communities long discarded.
The black press’s approach to journalism was deeply rooted in the moral commitment to justice and truth, which aligns with Kantian ethics. Kant argued that actions should be based on universal moral principles, not just outcomes or personal gains. As Phyl Garland observed in the documentary, “The black press was never intended to be objective because it didn’t see the white press being objective.” Instead, it adopted “a position” of advocacy, deliberately giving voice to African Americans when white media failed to do so, except when they committed a crime. This commitment to fairness and truth aligns with Kant’s categorical imperative, which asserts that actions should be taken from a sense of duty and respect for all individuals as ends in themselves, not merely as means to an end. I believe that Kant would have felt the editors and journalists of the black press acted out of duty to the dignity of their readers and the truth of their community’s experiences.
Utilitarianism, especially Jeremy Bentham’s, evaluates actions by their consequences, aiming to maximize reduce suffering focusing on measurable happiness. This approach helps to explain the motives of figures like Robert S. Abbott, the founder of The Chicago Defender. Abbott’s vision was not only to inform but to empower and his paper became a powerful force, giving voice to the African American people. Changing his initial position, he called on African Americans, encouraging them to migrate northward with the promise of better opportunities away from the oppressive Jim Crow South. Nearly 500,000 moved to the North and West between 1916 to 1919 spurring the creation of more than 500 black newspapers by the early 1920’s. His approach, spreading information that could help his audience improve their lives, maximized overall happiness and minimized suffering even in the face of Northern racism. I personally feel that Bentham would appreciate the pragmatic approach of The Defender and other black newspapers, as they gave readers essential information on where they could safely work, shop, and socialize, directly improving day-to-day happiness and safety.
John Stuart Mill’s variation of utilitarianism emphasized not just the quantity of happiness but its quality. Mill would argue that intellectual and moral pleasures, like the empowerment that comes from understanding one’s community, are more valuable than simple pleasures. The Defender’s reporting on racial violence, migration, and social challenges represented a high-quality contribution to readers’ lives, fostering a sense of dignity and purpose. Abbott’s black readers, such as Vernon Jarrett’s grandfather, valued the paper’s coverage of global black affairs, often reading every word, even advertisements, because it provided them with hope and pride. Mill would see this as promoting higher forms of happiness that cultivate intellectual and emotional well-being.
In sum, the black press’s mission, took a principled stand in giving voice to African Americans, fulfilling a moral duty as Kant would advise, while also striving for greater happiness and well-being as per Bentham and Mill. The philosophy behind the black press, embodied in the phrase from Freedom’s Journal, “We wish to plead our own cause… too long have others spoken for us,” reflected a determination to make a principled and practical difference in the lives of African Americans, advocating for dignity, autonomy, and justice.
I have heard before that journalism gives voices to those who wouldn’t have any otherwise. I don’t know if this is always intentional for all news sources, but it is something noble. It’s also true that the majority of “the white press” has never really been objective. I said majority because I can’t agree that ALL press in America is this way. I think it would be interesting to start reading the black press to see if their news reporting meets the SPJ ethics or just the basic journalistic methods. As journalists we have an ethical code.
Hey Marc,
I enjoy how you connected the black press to Kant and utilitarianism. This is such a cool way to frame their mission. Your point about The Chicago Defender empowering people through practical info, like where to live and work, makes a lot of sense and I like that point of view. It’s amazing how they turned journalism into a tool for survival and pride, especially during such a tough time in history. I also liked how you called out the black press’s deliberate advocacy. Sometimes taking a stand is the most ethical thing you can do. Nice post!
Hi Marc,
I watched RBG this week, so it’s nice to see utilitarianism related to another film; I’ll have to give this one a watch as well. You make excellent connections between the various philosopher’s ideas and the ethical principles at play in “the black press”. Taking a position of advocacy due to their communities being disenfranchised systematically through disparaging media portrayals certainly does align with applying a categorical imperative to the ethical decision making that has occurred within the black press, as a sort of rule utilitarian approach to decision making. The approach of the black press made me consider John Rawls’ “fairness as justice” philosophy as well, because the position of advocating for a group to pursue a sense of justice for this group aligns well with the tenets of Rawls’ Theory of Justice. This theory stands in contrast to utilitarianism in that it emphasizes basic liberties and equality of opportunity for all people, as opposed to equality of outcome under utilitarianism. Interesting points made all around; I enjoyed your breakdown of how the philosophy applies to the documentary.