A Frustration

This is my first time working with newspaper articles that have been clipped out and collected in a scrap book, and it’s really driving me insane! If I ever become famous and have to start clipping articles about myself I will be sure to preserve the date and publication. It will save a lot of trouble for future generations.

Eventually I will have to figure out exactly where each of these articles come from. I’m expecting to find a few answers with ProQuest, but I also expect that I will have to expand my research toolbox to get the information I need. Some will probably remain unidentified.

But my main concern right now is whether these article come from white newspapers or African American ones, which seems to me to be very important. I expect that some of the variations in tone depend on that fact. I feel entirely certain, for example, that Harold Martin—from the last post—was writing for a white audience. Similarly, when authors express gratitude for the work Jackson is doing to further the education and advancement of “the race,” or when Jackson himself writes a column on that subject, I feel sure that the audience is black.

I also expect that the publication’s audience influenced the choice of photographs. For example, this photograph of Jackson accompanied an article by the musician himself that might address fellow African Americans:

The article, although much deteriorated and difficult to read, praises the power of radio and encourages readers to keep and open mind to all kinds of music. The incorporation of a dignified photograph might be explained by the fact that Jackson speaks directly through the article. (But exactly which publications would have allowed Jackson to speak?) I have not found the source yet, but I simply have to.