The Jackson Advocate at 87: Still Here. Still Needed. Still Our Voice.

By DeAnna Tisdale Johnson

Jackson Advocate Publisher

In July 2022, I wrote an article entitled, “Mississippi Becomes Face of American Democracy.” The piece explored the significance of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case that overturned Roe v. Wade, impacting women’s health nationwide. It also reflected on Congressman Bennie Thompson’s role as chairman of the January 6th Committee. One of his statements still resonates with me:

“The Constitution doesn’t protect just Democrats or just Republicans. It protects all of us: ‘We the People.’…Our democracy remains in danger…Jan. 6 and the lies that led to insurrection have put two and a half centuries of constitutional democracy at risk. The world is watching what we do here. America has long been expected to be a shining city on a hill. A beacon of hope and freedom. A model for others — when we’re at our best. How can we play that role when our own house is in such disorder? We must confront the truth with candor, resolve and determination. We need to show that we are worthy of the gifts that are the birthright of every American.”

As the Jackson Advocate celebrates 87 years of continuous publication, I am reflecting on what that means for our present and our future. We have endured many trials. We have printed Black revolution, resilience, and restoration in our pages. We have highlighted Black thought, Black love, and Black beauty. These are intangible things that live deep in the soul and define who we are as a people. We have always fought for our rights, for equality, for our slice of the democracy pie. And we know – if no one else knows – that our rights are never guaranteed.

In 1955, Emmett Till was brutally murdered in Drew, Mississippi. This act of hatred became a turning point in American civil rights history. Just last month, we honored the 70th anniversary of his death. The Jackson Advocate has been here longer than that, bearing witness through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. And we have also been willing to wrestle with our own complicated past: our founding publisher, Percy Greene, was an innovative entrepreneur but also someone who cooperated with the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission to monitor Black leaders and organizers. That history is part of our story too – reminding us that truth requires honesty, even when it is uncomfortable.

When my father, Charles Tisdale, took over the paper, he did so with an unapologetically Black voice. That boldness brought consequences: our offices were shot up, and we endured fire bombings. But through it all, we remained steadfast. We were there when the first Black Mississippians were elected to public office. We were there when the city of Jackson and Hinds County were redistricted to reflect their Black majority more fairly. We were there for the Ayers case that reshaped higher education. And we were there when talks of liberation sparked real action.

Eighty-seven years later, the Black Press is still relevant. We are still here. We are still needed. And we want you – our readers – to know that. Through our trials and triumphs, we have to be the ones to tell our own stories. That responsibility is just as urgent now as it was in 1938.

Our democracy is still at stake. In just the past eight months, we have witnessed ICE agents terrorize neighborhoods. We have seen the National Guard occupy the streets of D.C. and Memphis, with whispers that Jackson could be next. These realities remind us that our work is not only about preserving history but about protecting the present.

Even in the midst of these challenges, the Advocate is growing. In December 2024, we purchased a building. That may sound like just bricks and mortar, but for us it’s a declaration: the Advocate has a permanent home – our first home – to anchor the next generation. We are here to stay.

We are also in the midst of a two-year grant with Press Forward, support that strengthens our newsroom and helps us plan for the future. And through the Google Transformation Tech cohort, we launched digital subscriptions and bundles that give readers the option of print, digital, or both. For a paper that once relied solely on print, this leap into the digital era marks a new chapter.

And still, more work lies ahead. We need to expand our digital footprint by hiring more writers and contributors to tell the stories that matter most – not just once a week in print, but every day online. We also dream of properly digitizing our archives. We have nearly nine decades of Black history – headlines, photographs, and testimonies of a people’s struggle and triumph. Preserving and sharing that treasure is about more than nostalgia; it is about ensuring that future generations can see themselves reflected in history.

We need your support. Running a newspaper in 2025 is different from 1985 or even 2005. And believe it or not, I’ve been around for all of those eras if you add one year to 1985.  Advertising models have shifted, readers are scattered across platforms, and the pace of digital media is fast. But what has not changed is the need for a trusted voice rooted in the community. 

We need to hear from you. Every subscription, every word of encouragement, every article you share reminds us that the Jackson Advocate is more than newsprint – it is the living, breathing reflection of a people. Your loyalty allows us to look back on 87 years not as the end of a story, but as the middle of one.

Today, we’re saying “Happy Anniversary.” But we’re also saying thank you – to every reader, advertiser, partner, and friend who has carried us through these decades. Thank you to those who built this legacy with grit and sacrifice. And thank you in advance to those who will help us shape the future.

We believe the best stories are still waiting to be told, and with your continued support, we will be here to tell them.

With gratitude,

The Jackson Advocate Family