Christopher J. Perry
Christopher James Perry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Christopher James Perry September 11, 1854 |
| Died | May 15, 1921[1] |
| Burial place | Eden Cemetery, Collingdale, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Other names | Christopher J. Perry, Sr., Chris J. Perry |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, politician, civil rights activist, newspaper founder, newspaper editor, journalist |
Christopher James Perry, Sr. (1854–1921)[1] was an American businessman, politician, civil rights activist, newspaper founder, newspaper editor, and journalist.[2][3] He was the founder of the The Tribune (later known as The Philadelphia Tribune), the longest running African-American newspaper.
Early life[edit]
Christopher James Perry was born on September 11, 1854, in Baltimore, Maryland, to parents that were free people of color.[3][4][5] When he was young, he moved to Philadelphia, in order to continue his education.[2] In 1867 at the age of 14, Perry started writing for local newspapers.[2]
Career[edit]
By November 1881, Perry was writing for the Sunday Mercury in New York City; and he later became the editor of the "colored department".[3][6] In 1884, he lost his job due to the newspaper’s bankruptcy; so Perry established his own newspaper on November 27, 1884, The Tribune (later known as The Philadelphia Tribune).[7][3][4] The first issue of the newspaper was written by hand, in an office located at 725 Sansom Street in Philadelphia.[4]
According to a United States census report, in 1880 the Black population in Philadelphia was 847,170 and by 1920 the Black population in Philadelphia rose to 1,823,779.[4] Within the Black community the city became overcrowded and the job market became highly competitive.[4] Perry used his newspaper to uplift and educate Black Philadelphians about social and political issues at both the local and national level; with a goal of supporting the middle class Black community's ability to gain higher education and local, decent paying jobs.[8][4] Throughout his career with The Tribune, Perry promoted the advancement of African Americans in society, and covered issues affecting their daily lives.[9]
For 10 years, he was a member of the Philadelphia City Council from the seventh ward.[10] He was a member of the Lombard Street Central Presbyterian.
Death and legacy[edit]
Perry worked on the Tribune until his death. Perry died of cancer on May 15, 1921, at his home in Philadelphia.[1][11] He was interred at Eden Cemetery (sometimes known as Marion Cemetery).[11]
Ten years after his death by 1930, The Tribune had a circulation of over 20,000, and became a vehicle of community change.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Philadelphia Editor Dead". The Voice of the People. 1921-05-21. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ a b c d Manos, Nick (February 1, 2009). "Christopher J. Perry (1854–1920)". BlackPast.org.
- ^ a b c d Penn, Irvine Garland (1891). "Mr. Christopher J. Perry, Editor Weekly Tribune". The Afro-American Press and Its Editors. Willey & Company. pp. 145–148. ISBN 978-0-598-58268-3.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Leading Voice for Black Philadelphians, The Philadelphia Tribune". PhilaPlace. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ Lane, Roger (1991-08-15). William Dorsey's Philadelphia and Ours: On the Past and Future of the Black City in America. Oxford University Press. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-19-536221-3.
- ^ "Christopher J. Perry - Leadership". Harvard Business School (HBS). Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ Franklin, V. P. (1984). ""Voice of the Black Community:" The Philadelphia Tribune, 1912–41". Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies. 51 (4): 261–284. ISSN 0031-4528.
- ^ Evensen, Bruce J. (1996). When Dempsey Fought Tunney: Heroes, Hokum, and Storytelling in the Jazz Age. Univ. of Tennessee Press. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-87049-918-0.
- ^ Taylor, Frederick Jerome (1990). "Black Musicians in "The Philadelphia Tribune", 1912-20". The Black Perspective in Music. 18 (1/2): 127–140. doi:10.2307/1214862. ISSN 0090-7790.
- ^ "Yesterday In Afro-American History". Jet. 36 (6): 11. May 15, 1969. ISSN 0021-5996.
- ^ a b "Perry". Evening Public Ledger. 1921-05-16. p. 26. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
Further reading[edit]
- Penn, Irvine Garland (1891). "Mr. Christopher J. Perry, Editor Weekly Tribune". The Afro-American Press and Its Editors. Willey & Company. pp. 145–148. ISBN 978-0-598-58268-3.
External links[edit]
- 1884: Tribune born in era where Blacks had limited rights, voice (2015), The Philadelphia Tribune
- Letter from Booker T. Washington to Christopher J. Perry (1906), Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library, Dickinson State University