Black Newspapers and America's War for Democracy, 1914-1920

“This is by far the most thorough, scholarly treatment of the black press during World War I and the Red Scare era that followed. . . . Exceptionally well written. . . . An excellent book for a mass communication class or a black history class.” — Journalism History

“[An] excellent, well-written text.” — CHOICE

“A well-balanced treatment of one of the major institutions in the black world. . . . Jordan has made extensive use of primary and secondary sources in this study. It is a work that will inform scholars and students alike about an important period in the history of the black press.” — Journal of Southern History

“A useful descriptive account of the African-American press during the World War I era. Written in a clear and lucid manner, this book links the black press of the early twentieth century with its predecessors in antislavery and post-Reconstruction eras. . . . Instructive reading for undergraduate students in African-American and U.S. political and media history.” — American Historical Review

“Masterfully describes the role of the black press in forcing America to confront the hypocrisy of its domestic racial policies and practices during World War I. . . . The author’s well-documented work reveals how the U.S. black press used the war to promote advancement of its agenda while walking a tightrope over the threat of government censorship and accusations of disloyalty. . . . Sheds further light on the role of the black press in U.S. history and brings greater understanding of the complexities involved in the promulgation of alternative news media. . . . Scholars interested in the disciplines of rhetoric, journalism, political science, and American history among others will benefit greatly from [Jordan’s] perspectives.” — Rhetoric & Public Affairs

“In original explorations of homefront issues from Du Bois’s call for 'Close Ranks' to anti-lynching protest, Jordan reveals blacks and whites' common but contested civic vocabulary as well as regional variations in black editorial strategy.” — Raymond Gavins, Duke University

“Jordan has written a fascinating account of the black press in American social and political history. This imaginative, rigorous book demonstrates how studying the African American media can illuminate American history in extraordinary ways.” — Susan Herbst, Northwestern University