The Chicago Bee was an African American newspaper founded to compete with the Chicago Defender, then the largest black-owned newspaper in the United States.  The Bee’s founder, banker, and food and cosmetics manufacturer, Anthony Overton, wanted a publication that would replace his now defunct Half Century Magazine, a home and homemaker publication targeting African American women who consumed his products. Overton had used Half Century Magazine to promote his line of black-oriented cosmetics for men and women and he envisioned a similar role for the Bee. Overton also felt the Defender promoted sensationalism, gimmickry, and exploitation of the fears and prejudices of its readers.  Overton promised a more sedate newspaper in tone and content which would adhere to professional journalistic standards and appeal to middle-class, conservative black Chicagoans. Overton promised readers of the Bee a newspaper that would dedicate itself to “higher education for Negros, cordial relations between the races, civic and racial improvement, the promotion of Negro business, and good, wholesome and authentic news fit for any member of the family.” In order to accomplish this aim, Overton hired Chandler Owen, cofounder of the socialist publication The Messenger as the newspaper’s managing editor. Owen and Overton clashed over politics … Continue reading The Chicago Bee (1926-1946)