1870 - Robert Sengstacke Abbott Is Born

Born June 1, 1870, Robert Sengstacke Abbott founded The Chicago Defender in 1905, one of the most influential Black newspapers in American history. At a time when mainstream media ignored or distorted Black lives, Abbott used the Defender to expose racial violence, promote civil rights, and encourage the Great Migration—urging Southern Blacks to move North for opportunity and safety. His newspaper, secretly circulated in the South, became a lifeline of information and hope. Abbott’s work helped shape national consciousness around race and catalyzed Black political mobilization. By the 1920s, The Chicago Defender boasted over 200,000 readers. His June 1 birth is a reminder of the power of independent Black media to disrupt dominant narratives and fuel social change.