the founder of The Chicago Defender| RObert Sengstacke abbott

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Robert Sengstacke Abbott was an influential African-American lawyer, newspaper publisher, and editor, best known as the founder of The Chicago Defender. Born on November 24, 1870, in Frederica, St. Simons Island, Georgia, Abbott played a crucial role in shaping the narrative around African-American issues and promoting civil rights.

Robert Abbott’s parents Thomas and Flora Abbott, were newly freed slaves who emerged within the Gullah culture of South Georgia. His father, Thomas Abbott died when Robert was a baby, and his mother Flora, remarried to a mixed-race man named John Sengstacke. Growing up in an environment that valued education and social justice, Robert showed early intellectual promise. He studied print at Hampton Institute and developed a passion for journalism.

After graduating from Hampton, Abbott pursued a law degree at Kent College of Law (now part of Chicago's Illinois Institute of Technology). In 1898, he became one of the first African Americans to earn a law degree from Kent. Abbott briefly practiced law in Indiana and Kansas. Still, he soon shifted his focus to journalism, recognizing the power of the press to address the African-American community's challenges with racism.

In 1905, Abbott founded The Chicago Defender, a weekly newspaper that would become one of the most significant and influential African-American publications of the 20th century. The Defender initially operated from a room in Abbott's landlord's boardinghouse, with a meager budget and a small staff. Abbott's vision was to create a platform that would challenge racial discrimination, advocate for civil rights, and celebrate the achievements of African Americans.

Under Abbott's leadership, The Chicago Defender became a voice for the Great Migration, encouraging African Americans to move north for better economic opportunities and to escape the racial violence of the South. The paper played a pivotal role in shaping the narrative around racial issues, and Abbott fearlessly used its pages to challenge segregation, lynching, and other injustices. The nine goals of the Defender's "Bible" were as follows: 1. American race prejudice must be destroyed, 2. Opening up all trade unions to Black people and whites, 3. Representation in the President's Cabinet, 4. Hiring black engineers, firemen, and conductors on all American railroads, and to all jobs in government, 5. Gaining representation in all departments of the police forces over the entire United States, 6. Government schools give preference to American citizens before foreigners, 7. Hiring black motormen and conductors on surface, elevated, and motor bus lines throughout America, 8. Federal legislation to abolish lynching, 9. Full enfranchisement of all American citizens

Abbott's impact on African-American journalism and civil rights cannot be overstated. The Defender became a powerful tool for social change, shaping public opinion and influencing political leaders. Abbott's commitment to addressing racial inequalities and providing a voice for the voiceless left an enduring legacy.

Robert Sengstacke Abbott passed away on February 29, 1940. His pioneering work with The Chicago Defender laid the foundation for future generations of African-American journalists and activists. The newspaper continued to operate and evolve, contributing significantly to the ongoing struggle for civil rights in the United States. Abbott's contributions to journalism and civil rights solidified his position as a key figure in African-American history. Mr. Robert Sengstacke Abbott, we proudly stand on your shoulders. 

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