FJP Community Network Grant Winner: AFRO American Newspapers

Bring together intergenerational groups of Baltimore residents for conversations, supported with archival content, about the impact of women's suffrage on the legacy of the Black vote and why it matters today.

$25,000

In an effort to increase Baltimore’s dismally low Black voter turnout, the historic AFRO American Newspapers will create a commemorative issue on the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, and produce 3 complementary programs in partnership with Baltimore-based cultural organizations. 2020 is both a general election and mayoral election year in the city, making our project particularly timely. Modeled in part on the New York Times’s 1619 Project, our special voting edition will feature images from our extensive archives, newly commissioned essays on the legacy of Black suffrage, and reprints of historical AFRO articles published in the early 1900s, all focused on the Black vote. We will build community through programming that brings together intergenerational groups of Baltimoreans for robust discussions about the legacy of the Black vote, with voter registration opportunities at each event.

Women’s suffrage will take center stage in 2020, but few organizations have the depth of history to illustrate the unique contributions Black women’s organizations played in this story. By highlighting this particular legacy of activism in both print and live events, we aim to connect this history to the present struggle for Black voting rights, inspiring our community to take advantage of these hard-won fights. To attract younger audiences, we will commission younger writers, bring on a dedicated publication designer and organize thoughtful programming. As a legacy company, we need to make bold changes both aesthetically and editorially to remain relevant to the next generation.

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