June 7, 2024
Event: NNPA
The National Negro Press Association (NNPA) will host its annual national convention from June 19 to 22, 2024 at the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore. The convention will feature a series of panel discussions, keynote speeches, and networking opportunities. The NNPA is the trade association of the more than 250 African-American-owned newspapers and media companies that comprise the Black Press of America. https://www.nnpa-events.com/
This year's event, aptly themed "Empowering Black Press, Communities, Families, and Voter Turnout," not only marks the Black Press's 197th anniversary, a significant milestone just three years shy of its bicentennial but also serves as a powerful reminder of the Black Press's enduring commitment to empowerment and social change.
Picture Source: Oxford University
The Black Press, a beacon of resilience and advocacy, was founded in 1827, before slavery ended in America, with the publication of Freedom's Journal in New York by John B. Russwurm and Samuel Cornish. With its rich history, this conglomerate has long championed the cause of African Americans and has been a steadfast voice for the community. "We wish to plead our own cause; for too long, others have spoken for us," declared Russwurm and Cornish in their inaugural issue, which still resonates today. https://academic.oup.com/nyu-press-scholarship-online/book/35659/chapter-abstract/306862181?redirectedFrom=fulltext
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, recognizing the pivotal role of the Black Press, have actively accepted formal invitations to attend the convention. Their participation, eagerly anticipated by the over 250 Black-owned newspaper and media company owners and their team of editors and journalists who are expected in Baltimore, underscores the influence and importance of the Black vote in the upcoming 2024 election.
