Rebels: Charlotta Bass

Episode Summary

The podcast episode is about Charlotta Bass, a pioneering African American journalist and activist. Bass was born around 1880 in South Carolina and moved to Rhode Island where she attended college and began working for a black-owned newspaper. She later moved to Los Angeles and started working for The Eagle, the oldest black newspaper on the West Coast. When the owner got sick, Bass took over as editor and publisher, becoming the first woman to run a newspaper. She renamed it the California Eagle and grew it into the largest black newspaper on the West Coast. For over 40 years, Bass used the newspaper to report on racial injustices and advocate for civil rights. She focused on issues like police brutality, housing discrimination, and workplace inequality. In 1952, Bass became the first African American woman to run for Vice President of the United States. Although she lost, her historic campaign raised important civil rights issues. She continued activism and community work until her death in 1969. Bass broke gender and race barriers and used journalism to shine a light on inequity. She was a pioneer who pushed for change during the fight for civil rights.

Episode Show Notes

Charlotta Bass (c. 1880-1969) was the first Black woman to run for vice president of the United States. She was also a lifelong journalist and activist, who made it her life’s work to end segregation and discrimination.

Episode Transcript

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Like watch each other go to the bathroom close. But you could be even closer with Bark Super Chewer. Every month, Super Chewer brings dogs and their humans together with tough toys and meaty treats. Sign up now at superchewer.com slash iHeart. SPEAKER_03: Hello, from Wonder Media Network, I'm Jenny Kaplan and this is Womanica. This month we're talking about rebels with a cause. Women who broke rules that were meant to be broken. These women took major risks to upend the status quo and create meaningful change. Today we're talking about the first black woman to run for Vice President of the United States. She was also a lifelong journalist and activist who made her life's work to end segregation and discrimination. Let's talk about Charlotta Bass. Charlotta was born in Sumter, South Carolina. Her exact birth date is unknown, but it's believed to have been around 1880. Her parents were Hiram and Kate Spears and Charlotta was one of 11 children. By 1900, she'd moved to Rhode Island and attended Pembroke College. There, she had her debut working in journalism at the black-owned Providence Watchman newspaper. After a few years, she moved to Los Angeles where the warm weather helped ease her asthma and arthritis. Charlotta took a job at The Eagle, the oldest black newspaper on the West Coast. The newspaper's office was nestled in a neighborhood full of black churches, bars, and businesses. Charlotta started at the newspaper by selling subscriptions to the black-owned Black newspaper. She was a very famous black woman and started at the newspaper by selling subscriptions for $5 a week. But soon, she found herself documenting the racial realities of her neighborhood and of greater LA. When the founder and editor of the paper, John Nemore, got sick, he asked Charlotta to take over for him. Charlotta later said, that decision was the talk of the town. No one had ever heard of a woman running a newspaper. And it didn't help that the newspaper was actually owned by a white man. He offered Charlotta his support for her new position on the condition that she be his sweetheart. To which she said, get out you dirty dog. She borrowed $50 to buy the newspaper at an auction. Charlotta had her work cut out for her as the new owner, editor, and publisher of the paper. She started by renaming it the California Eagle. Charlotta also hired a new editor who later became her husband, J.B. Bass. With his help, Charlotta grew the paper to be the largest black-owned newspaper on the West Coast with a circulation of more than 60,000. Over her 40 years running the newspaper, Charlotta focused on stories about black people and their history. She was a very famous black woman and in her career, Charlotta focused on stories of racial discrimination and inequity to shed light on these issues and to push for change. When the movie, The Birth of a Nation came out in 1915, Charlotta denounced it in the paper for glorifying the crimes of the Ku Klux Klan. She also reported extensively on police brutality, workplace discrimination, and housing segregation. She even started the Homeowners Protective Association in 1945, which challenged housing covenants in the courts. These covenants made it illegal for black people to live in white neighborhoods. A historian at the California African American Museum said Charlotta wasn't ahead of her time. Actually, she said, I think she was right on time. She had very sophisticated ideas about what the United States could be. Sometimes, Charlotta's strong stances made her a target for dangerous attention. Once in 1925, members of the Ku Klux Klan showed up at her office late at night. Charlotta pulled a pistol out of her desk. She later wrote that she didn't know which end was which, but she figured it out and scared the intruders away. Charlotta's husband would often tell her, Mrs. Bass, one of these days, you're going to get me first. Mrs. Bass, one of these days, you're going to get me killed. She would reply, Mr. Bass, it will be in a good cause. J.B. Bass passed away in 1934. Charlotta continued to run the California Eagle until 1951. By then, she'd been involved in local politics for a few years. In 1952, she ran as the first black woman for vice president in a bid with Vincent Halonen, a San Francisco lawyer. Their campaign was a long shot, but Charlotta didn't care. Her slogan was, win or lose, we win by raising the issues. Dwight D. Eisenhower won the presidency, and his running mate, Richard Nixon, became vice president. But Charlotta's campaign was still a win for American history, and she was hailed by civil rights leaders of the time for her work in shaping the country's political agenda. When the campaign ended, Charlotta moved to a smaller city south of LA. She remained an active community member until her last days. In 1960, she published her memoir, and nine years later, she passed away. SPEAKER_03: All month, we're talking about Rebels with a Cause. For more information, check us out on Facebook and Instagram at Wamanica Podcast. Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator. Talk to you tomorrow. SPEAKER_07: If the Caribbean is calling, but your wallet is keeping you from answering, here's some great news. Now you can get more sand for your dollar on your next all-inclusive beach vacation with the cheap Caribbean.com Budget Beach Finder. Just set your price range, and the Budget Beach Finder will show you the best deals across tons of different beach destinations. Easily compare vacay packages in Mexico, Jamaica, Punta Cana, and more to find exactly what you're looking for at the best price possible. SPEAKER_00: Do you hear it? The clock is ticking. It's time for the new season of 60 Minutes. 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