How the (Digital) Black Press (Still) Counters Hegemony, Redeems Democracy, and Cultivates Care

Abstract

This paper examines the Black press and its role in fulfilling the promises of a society that claimed all men were created equal. It explores how the Black press helped realize journalistic principles and democratic ideals by countering hegemony and being characterized by care ethics. After briefly addressing the transformation of the Black press in the digital age as well as its concomitant challenges for advocacy, the project concludes with contemporary examples and discuss the current state of this Black media care ethic. Ultimately, the Black press serves all citizens, and it is in everyone’s best interest for Black media to flourish and thrive. Furthermore, and considering our current context, we should question who is able to profit from the Black digital press, and how its specific relationship to funding, larger society, and the digital environment might influence its ability to fully critique the social order and advocate for otherwise underserved citizens.

Keywords:

• Black press
• care ethics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Cornish and Russwurm did not use the word “race” but referred to the “discredit of any person of colour (sic).”

2 In addition to Allen and Hindman (2014), this list is also derived from the journalistic roles for society in Stephanie Craft and Charles N. Davis, Principles of American Journalism, 2^nd ed. (New York: Routledge, 2016), 1–30.

3 Defined by the Founders as a representative democracy, just not one that was “too” democratic.

4 And other groups such as women, American Indians, and non-dominant socioeconomic classes.

5 Depending on one’s country or region the word “Women” appeared instead of “Folx” (Unbothered, n.d.).

6 The show ran for three seasons from 2020 until 2022. It was not officially canceled as NBC announced it would continue to release special episodes. Ruffin, however, has pursued other projects on Broadway and beyond, so this is written in the past tense.