In the process of recording life events and accomplishments, African American newspapers emerged as the life blood of their communities during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This talk will focus on the content and visuals of some of the most significant African American newspapers, such as The Chicago Defender, The Indianapolis Freeman, and the Michigan Chronicle, which will illustrate the importance of this media in the interpretation of local and national news for an African American audience.
A native of Indianapolis, Deirdre Spencer is the Librarian for History of Art at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She holds an AB in Art History from Indiana University, Bloomington, an MA in Art History from the University of Chicago, and an MLS in Library and Information Science from Indiana University Bloomington. She is currently working to complete her doctoral degree in Art History alongside her primary role as a librarian at the University of Michigan.
