Robert S. Abbott is a well-known American publisher, founder of the “Chicago Defender” newspaper. The publication circulates mainly in Chicago, where Abbott was born on December 8, 1868.
The first issue of the newspaper appeared on March 6, 1905, under the name “The Chicago Daily Defender”. It was first published by Robert S. Abbott for two reasons: to provide a voice for African Americans and to fight against racial discrimination and segregation issues in Illinois.
At that time black people were often refused access to various types of employment and they were exposed to obtrusive abuse from whites (including police officials). As result, many African Americans had no choice but to leave their homes and move elsewhere to survive. Such actions led to the creation of so-called “Black Ghettos” in the suburbs of major US cities.
The Early Life of Robert S. Abbott
Robert Abbott was born in 1868 in the town of Summit, located in Illinois. He was one of eight children born to John and Nancy Abbott. When Abbott was still a young boy his family moved to the city of Chicago.
Robert Abbott’s Educational Background
At that time African Americans in the USA were not accepted to Public High Schools. Therefore, Robert Abbott had no choice but to take his studies at a local school which was mainly attended by children of well-off white families.
Robert Abbott’s Educational Pursuits Abroad
Meanwhile, even though he was never able to complete his high school education in full because of financial problems, young Robert Abbott did not waste any time and started preparing himself for College. When he turned 18 years old he traveled to London where he enrolled in Bow Elementary School. His foreign trip lasted about one year after which Abbott returned home with additional qualifications that would help him enroll into Kentucky State University (formerly known as Kentucky Normal and Theological Institute).
Robert Abbot’s Early Career
In 1882, at the age of 14, Abbott started working as a newsboy on the “Chicago Inter Ocean” newspaper. A few years later he was promoted to the typesetter and then to a reporter. In 1898 Abbott became the first African American field secretary for the Republican Party in Illinois.
After Robert S. Abbott graduated from Kentucky State University he was offered a job as a teacher at the school he had just left. He worked there for at least one year, after which he decided to become a lawyer and enrolled at Kent College of Law (located in Chicago). When he was 25 years old Abbott received his law degree and began working as an attorney.
Although his career seemed to take off quite well, Robert Abbott did not find happiness in the legal profession and consequently gave it up.
The next chapter in young Robert S. Abbott’s life took place on September 11th, 1890 when he married Ada Bannister from Geneseo in Illinois. After five years of marriage, Ada died leaving behind their only daughter – Gwend olyn.
To support his daughter, Robert Abbott decided to start his own business. He chose the printing industry and founded a printing company which he named The Abbott Printing Co.
The Chicago Defender Newspaper is Born
As mentioned earlier, in 1905 Robert S. Abbott founded “The Chicago Daily Defender” newspaper with the main goal of fighting against racism and segregation issues in Illinois. At that time there was no other publication that focused exclusively on such matters from an African American perspective.
The “Chicago Defender” grows in popularity
The “Chicago Defender” was originally distributed in black communities by carriers who sold the newspaper for two cents per copy. At that time there were many newspapers directed to African Americans, but “The Chicago Defender” was different. It didn’t simply inform its readers – it inspired them, encouraging them to stand up for their rights and to fight against racial discrimination issues.
The paper also included articles about what life was like in other parts of the country or Europe (at that time many African Americans believed they would face less racism if they moved elsewhere). Plus it included delicious recipes, health tips, and fashion advice for women.
Although Abbott founded The Chicago Defender out of his pocket for years he eventually found sponsors who could help him with running the paper. It was a very time-consuming process since he also had to edit and write articles, plus come up with ideas for new editions.
The Defender’s Circulation Grows Rapidly
Due to the high quality of its content “The Chicago Daily Defender” managed to attract a large number of readers (mainly African Americans) very quickly. This led to the expansion of the newspaper’s circulation into other states.
The Chicago Defender’s Political and Social Influence Grows
As the years went by “The Chicago Daily Defender” began to wield more and more political and social influence. It became an important advocate for the civil rights of African Americans in the USA and played a significant role in the struggle against racism and segregation.
Robert S. Abbott Retires from The Chicago Defender
In 1923 Robert S. Abbott decided to retire from his position as Editor-in-Chief of “The Chicago Defender”. He passed on the responsibility to his nephew, John H. Sengstacke who continued to lead the newspaper until he died in 1974.
Even though he retired from the day-to-day operations of “The Chicago Defender”, Robert S. Abbott remained Chairman of the Board.
Robert Abbott Dies at Age 82
On February 24th, 1940, after an extremely successful career. He managed to do so much for his community and race. Robert Abbott died at age 82. He was respected not only by his peers but also by those who worked with him as well as those who read “The Chicago Defender” newspaper.
Controversies Faced by Robert S. Abbott
Although Robert S. Abbott was an extremely successful and influential individual, he wasn’t immune to controversy. For example, there were accusations that he received payments from white businessmen in exchange for not writing negatively about them in “The Chicago Defender”.
However, these accusations have never been proven and it is more likely that Abbott simply had good relationships with the people he did business with.
Robert S. Abbott’s Achievements and Awards
As mentioned earlier, Robert S. Abbott was a very influential individual who managed to have a great impact on society as a whole. After working for “The Chicago Defender” for many years he eventually retired from his position as Editor-in-Chief in 1923. However, he continued to serve as Chairman of the Board until his death in 1940 at age 82.
In addition to being chairman of the board of directors, Robert S. Abbott also received several prestigious awards during his lifetime including:
· The Spingarn Medal (1921) – this award is given by the NAACP (National Association for Advancement of Colored People) once every year for outstanding achievements by African Americans;
· The Harmon Foundation Gold Medal (1929) – this is another prestigious award given by the NAACP to African Americans for achievements in science, literature, and other fields;
Robert S. Abbott’s Books
“A Modern Chronicle of Georgia”, published in 1920, is a collection of twelve short stories set in different cities throughout Georgia. Although most of them are written in the third person, they include several pieces which are written from the point of view of an African American man living during that period.
The protagonist in this book is similar to Robert S. Abbott himself because he was also born into poverty and managed to achieve success through hard work and determination. He worked his way up from being an errand boy to becoming one of the most influential members of society at that period.
In “The American Negro in the World War” (1921), Abbott tells the story of African Americans who served in the military during World War I. He includes personal interviews with some of the servicemen and also provides detailed accounts of their experiences.
This book was published just a year after the end of World War I and it is one of the first books to document the role that African Americans played in that war.
In “The Black Watch” (1923), Abbott tells the story of an all-black regiment that fought in World War I. This book is based on his own experiences as a member of that regiment.
Even though these books were all published many years ago, they are still considered to be very valuable pieces of literature.
Despite the controversies faced by Robert S. Abbott, his achievements and impact on society as a whole are undeniable. He was a pioneer in the fight against racism and segregation. His legacy continues to inspire African Americans all over the world. Thanks to him, many doors were opened for future generations. We can only imagine what else he would have been able to achieve if he were still alive today.
The Chicago Defender was an important advocate for the civil rights of African Americans in the USA. It played a significant role in the struggle against racism and segregation.
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