July 9th 2025.
The Southern Courier, a newspaper based in Montgomery, was established during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. This year, as the publication celebrates its 60th anniversary, it will also be honored with a historic marker. This momentous occasion marks a significant milestone for the newspaper and recognizes its role in both the city's history and the Civil Rights Movement.
The marker will be placed at the former office of The Southern Courier, and it is the result of years of hard work to acknowledge and commemorate the newspaper's contributions. The publication was first established in 1965 by a group of passionate journalism students from Harvard University. As reported by the Montgomery Advertiser, The Southern Courier was dedicated to documenting the progress and struggles of the Civil Rights Movement in the southeastern region of the United States. The newspaper also made a conscious effort to recruit local writers to ensure that the stories were told by those who were directly impacted by the injustices and the fight for racial equality.
Viola Bradford, one of the young reporters for The Southern Courier, recalls the newspaper's fearless approach in shedding light on issues that were often ignored by other publications. She joined the paper at just 14 years old and remembers the courage and dedication of her colleagues. "We were doing things that no other newspaper was doing," Bradford explains. "It was a bold paper written by courageous individuals."
Unfortunately, The Southern Courier had a short run, lasting only three years due to financial struggles. However, its legacy lives on as a platform that fearlessly exposed the racism and discrimination of the time. For example, Bradford's reporting on a firebombing of a young Black woman's home revealed that the crime was a result of her involvement in the integration of a local high school.
At an event last January, the woman in question, Sophia Bracy Harris, praised the work of The Southern Courier and its commitment to reporting the truth, regardless of the consequences. She shared, "These are memories that I believe are crucial for our generation to recognize. We must never forget that it is not impossible for us to go back in time. The courage displayed by The Courier, its reporters, and those who supported them, including the brave leaders who worked with them, is something that we must pass on and continue to nurture."
Bradford's time at The Southern Courier has had a lasting impact on her. She continues to advocate for revolutionary journalism and has since founded the Sankofa Service, a nonprofit organization. The organization's first event will be the dedication of the historic marker, which will take place on July 26th. This is an opportunity to not only honor The Southern Courier but also to carry on its legacy of fearless and impactful journalism.
In a similar vein, Minnesota's oldest Black-owned newspaper recently celebrated its 90th anniversary. These milestones serve as a reminder of the crucial role that newspapers and journalists play in shaping our history and fighting for justice and equality. As we continue to move forward, it is essential to recognize and honor the contributions of these publications and individuals who have dedicated their lives to telling the truth and bringing about change.
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