Title
Honoring and recognizing The Philadelphia Tribune as a community advocate and vocal champion for African American issues on the occasion of its 130 year anniversary as the oldest, continuously published newspaper, owned and operated by African Americans.
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WHEREAS, At the age of 28, Christopher James Perry, Sr. published the first edition of a one-page, one man operation titled Tribune Weekly at 725 Sansom Street, an area known as Jeweler's Row; and
WHEREAS, Perry, born in 1856, was a native of Baltimore, MD. Upon graduating from high school, Perry relocated to Philadelphia. Although Perry's father wanted him to study law, he refused, stating, "For my people to make progress, they must have a newspaper through which they can speak against injustice"; and
WHEREAS, After 11 years working as a reporter for a local daily newspaper while attending night school, Perry's dream of establishing a newspaper became a reality when he launched the Tribune; and
WHEREAS, From the very beginning until his death Perry wrote about the problems that affected the daily lives of Black Americans, especially Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, Today the Tribune, which moved to its present location at 520 S. 16th St. in 1912, is now America's oldest continuously published newspaper owned and operated by African Americans; and
WHEREAS, The Tribune has championed issues of desegregation, over all equality, equal access to City employment and contracting opportunities for people of color to increasing the representation of African-American judges appointed to Philadelphia Municipal Court. However, with the election and re-election of Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 as the nation's first African-American president, getting Blacks elected to office is taken for granted; and
WHEREAS, The Tribune now champions quality education and economic empowerment are as civil rights issues of today. The Tribune is a powerful advocate and champion against police brutality and ot...
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