Bass and Beyond
Explore more than 200 years of Black media activism on the West Coast, where trailblazing journalists and storytellers — like our namesake, Charlotta Bass — have shaped history and amplified the voices of their communities.
Abolition
Discover the pivotal role of the Abolitionist Movement on the West Coast, where Black journalists fought tirelessly for freedom and justice. Learn how their bold efforts laid the foundation for future civil rights movements and helped reshape the region’s history.
Read about Abolition
The First Reconstruction
Learn how Black communities on the West Coast used media to drive Reconstruction’s goals, fighting for political, social, and economic equality. Explore the resilient and innovative stories that defined this pivotal era.
Read about The First Reconstruction
The Great Migration
Discover how Black newspaper editors played a key role in the Great Migration, using their publications to inspire and persuade Black families to move West in search of greater opportunity. Learn how these journalists shaped the vision of a new life on the West Coast, offering hope and guidance to those seeking freedom and a fresh start.
Read about The Great Migration
The Black Labor Movement
Explore the powerful history of the Black Labor Movement in the U.S., where Black American workers fought for fair wages, equal rights, and better working conditions. Find out how journalists on the West Coast played a crucial role in amplifying these efforts, using media to rally support and spotlight injustices.
Read about The Black Labor Movement
The Double V Campaign
Discover the significance of the Double V campaign, a powerful movement led by Black Americans during World War II. As they fought for victory abroad, they also demanded victory against racial discrimination at home. Learn how Black journalists and activists rallied the nation to support this dual struggle.
Read about The Double V Campaign
The Red Scare
Learn how Black journalists on the West Coast stood firm during the Red Scare, using their platforms to challenge accusations and defend civil liberties. As McCarthyism swept the nation, these courageous reporters fought against the suppression of dissent, often at great personal risk. Learn how their activism helped protect free speech and fueled the ongoing fight for racial justice.
Read about The Red Scare
The Long Civil Rights Movement
Black journalists on the West Coast played a vital role in the Civil Rights Movement, often amplifying the fight for justice beyond the U.S. South. Learn how these reporters used their platforms to spotlight local activism and connect it to the national struggle.
Read about The Long Civil Rights Movement
The Black Power Movement
Discover how West Coast Black media outlets became key advocates for the Black Power Movement, using platforms like Black Power radio and public television to spread ideas of empowerment and self-defense. Learn how their bold programming helped shape a new era of activism and advocacy.
Read about The Black Power Movement
The Rise of Black Feminism
Black journalists during the late 1960s and 1970s championed new ideas about Black feminism, redefining the movement for a generation. They highlighted the unique struggles of Black women and called for intersectional approaches to racial and gender justice. Learn how their efforts forever altered the discourse around feminism and civil rights.
Read about The Rise of Black Feminism
The Black Arts Movement
Black journalists on the West Coast championed the Black Arts Movement, using their platforms to amplify the voices of Black poets, playwrights, and artists. Through their coverage, they celebrated the creativity and cultural pride that defined this era while pushing for greater representation in the arts. Learn how their support helped shape a vibrant artistic movement that redefined Black identity and expression.
Read about The Black Arts Movement
The Anti-Apartheid Movement
Discover how Black journalists in California, Oregon and Washington played a vital role in supporting the Anti-Apartheid movement, using their platforms to raise awareness and rally for justice in South Africa. Through powerful investigative reporting, they exposed the brutal realities of apartheid and connected racial inequality in the U.S. to the global struggle for freedom. Learn how their coverage helped fuel international solidarity.
Read about The Anti-Apartheid Movement
Mass Incarceration & Prison Reform
The West Coast is home to some of the world’s most notorious prisons. Explore how Black journalists in the region have pushed the issue of mass incarceration to the forefront of American consciousness, highlighting its disproportionate impact on Black communities. Their groundbreaking coverage sparked national conversations and brought attention to the urgent need for criminal justice reform.
Read about Mass Incarceration & Prison Reform
Witnessing Police Brutality
Discover how the West Coast became the region that put police brutality in the national spotlight, when citizen journalists used their camcorders and phones to capture and share powerful footage of injustice in real time. Their grassroots reporting challenged mainstream narratives, sparking crucial conversations about accountability and reform.
Read about Witnessing Police Brutality
The Movement for Black Lives
Explore how Black smartphone journalists on the West Coast played a pivotal role in establishing, documenting, and growing the Black Lives Matter movement. Through real-time footage and social media, they captured powerful moments of protest and resistance, which compelled global calls for justice and systemic change.
Read about The Movement for Black Lives
The Third Reconstruction
Discover how Black journalists are leading the coverage of the Third Reconstruction, with a focus on voting rights, women’s rights, and racial equality. They are documenting the fight to protect and expand these essential freedoms while holding leaders accountable for injustices. Learn how their reporting is shaping the national conversation on democracy and civil rights today.
Read about the Third Reconstruction