author
Timothy Thomas Fortune
1856–1928
Born into slavery in Florida and later one of the most influential Black journalists of his time, he used the press as a tool for civil rights advocacy. His writing and leadership helped shape public debate in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
1 Audiobook
Black and White: Land, Labor, and Politics in the South
by Timothy Thomas Fortune
About the author
Timothy Thomas Fortune was an American journalist, editor, publisher, orator, and civil rights activist born on October 3, 1856, in Marianna, Florida. After emancipation, he built a career in journalism and became widely known through The New York Age, where his work made him a leading voice in the Black press.
Fortune wrote forcefully about racial injustice, political rights, and the urgent need to challenge lynching and discrimination. He was also involved in organizing for civil rights, including the movement that led to the Afro-American League, and he became known as one of the most prominent Black public thinkers of his era.
Remembered today as a powerful advocate and influential newspaper man, Fortune helped show how journalism could be both a profession and a form of activism. His life traces a remarkable journey from slavery to national prominence in American public life.