The Black Press:
   Stewards of Democracy  
       
 In 2019, the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center became a National Historic Journalism Site, by the Society of Professional Journalists.  Our current exhibit is a composite of the early "Pioneers of the Black Press," many of whom, like T. Thomas Fortune, were born into slavery.  This network of editors and publishers changed the social landscape of America by speaking truth to power and illuminating issues such as lynching, the failure of Reconstruction that spawned an unrelenting activism that is still with us today. 
        "Shaping Black Identity," is featured in the Ida B. Wells Gallery,  with a focus on "Black Firsts in Media." "Ancestral Ascension," located on the second level of this National Historic Landmark, brings the History in Your Back yard to life with the story of the Dr. James Parker Sr., and the Parker Family - the first medical professionals in Red Bank- one generation removed from slavery. 
To book a tour contact yvonne@tthomasfortunefoundation.org  
Tours 9 -11 am  or 12:30 - 2:30 pm