Bass and Beyond
Protecting Free Speech
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.
Protecting Free Speech
The mid-20th-century Red Scare gripped the United States, particularly during the late 1940s and 1950s, as escalating fears of communism gave way to widespread paranoia. On the West Coast, this wave of anti-communist sentiment deeply affected Black communities, where activism and civil rights advocacy were often unfairly conflated with subversive activity. This climate of suspicion disproportionately targeted prominent Black leaders, silenced Black journalists, and tested the resilience of the Black press in states such as Washington, Oregon, and California.
The Red Scare unfolded in two significant periods, each led by different figures and institutions. The First Red Scare (1919–1920) arose from fears of communism, anarchism, and radical leftism following the 1917 Russian Revolution. During this time, Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer spearheaded the controversial Palmer Raids, which targeted suspected radicals and immigrants, leading to mass arrests and deportations often conducted without due process. The Second Red Scare (1947–1957) emerged during the early Cold War, marked by heightened anti-communist sentiment and widespread investigations into alleged communist activities.
Senator Joseph McCarthy became the most prominent figure of the era, notorious for his unfounded accusations of communist infiltration in the U.S. government, military, and entertainment industries, a practice that came to be known as McCarthyism. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) also played a key role, particularly in targeting alleged communists in Hollywood. Both periods were characterized by fear, suppression of dissent, and significant violations of civil liberties, leaving a lasting impact on individuals and institutions across the country.
Prominent Black Figures in the Crosshairs
Black activists and artists on the West Coast found themselves under intense scrutiny during the Red Scare. Paul Robeson, a celebrated actor, singer, and civil rights activist, was one of the most visible targets. Robeson’s political outspokenness and alignment with socialist ideals drew the ire of the HUAC. In 1950, Robeson faced a travel ban, rendering him unable to perform internationally, a key source of his livelihood.
Similarly, W.E.B. Du Bois, though more nationally focused, found his connections on the West Coast targeted by federal investigations into alleged communist affiliations. Local Black leaders, including members of the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP, were also scrutinized, as the organization’s ties to leftist coalitions were deemed suspect by government agencies.
McCarthyism and the Black Press
The Black press, a vital instrument for advocacy and community cohesion, faced unique challenges during McCarthyism. Publications in Washington, Oregon, and California were surveilled and accused of spreading “subversive” ideas, particularly when advocating for racial equality or criticizing systemic oppression. These accusations aimed to undermine the legitimacy of the Black press and silence dissenting voices.
In Seattle, the Northwest Enterprise, a Black newspaper, was pressured to avoid content that could be interpreted as radical. Similarly, in Portland, the Oregon Advance Times struggled to balance the demand for racial justice reporting with the pervasive fear of federal retribution. California, home to a significant portion of the West Coast’s Black population, became a focal point of government scrutiny. The California Eagle, one of the state’s most prominent Black newspapers, was an outspoken critic of racism and inequality and frequently clashed with the state’s Red-baiting authorities.
Charlotta Bass and the Fight for Justice
Charlotta Bass, editor of the California Eagle, stood at the forefront of the fight against McCarthyism. Bass was unyielding in her commitment to social justice, even as she became a target of government investigations. She used the Eagle to expose the injustices of racial discrimination, voter suppression, and police brutality, all while denouncing the use of anti-communism to stifle civil rights activism.
Bass’s activism extended beyond journalism. In 1952, she became the first African American woman to run for national office as the vice-presidential candidate of the Progressive Party, a coalition accused of harboring communist sympathies. Despite being labeled a radical, Bass persisted, embodying the defiance of a press and people unwilling to be silenced.