Ruby McCollum sat in a courtroom where the truth of her story was almost erased, but the Black press made sure that would never happen. In 1952, the story of a Black woman in Florida who killed a powerful white doctor in a case tied to racial, sexual, and economic oppression was not one that mainstream media wanted to tell with nuance or humanity. But the Pittsburgh Courier did. Now owned by Real Times Media – the parent company of Michigan Chronicle and several other Black media entities across the country – the Pittsburgh Courier sent Zora Neale Hurston, the literary giant, to document what would have otherwise been lost—a Black woman’s truth in a world that sought to silence her. That story has turned into a dynamic, gripping stage play and will be making its Detroit debut from Feb. 7-9 at the Music Hall.
The Black press has always been more than just newspapers. It is a historical archive, a truth teller, and the pulse of Black America. Black newspapers documented the real story of Ruby McCollum, centering on her humanity in ways that mainstream media refused to do. Without the Pittsburgh Courier, the world would not know the full weight of her experience—her forced relationship with a white doctor, the children that resulted from that coercion, and the impossible circumstances that led to her taking his life. Zora Neale Hurston’s reporting did not just chronicle facts; it fought against a system that deemed Black women unworthy of justice.
But just as Real Times Media’s archives have preserved the truth of Ruby McCollum, it’s done the same for tens of thousands of other Black people throughout its 120-plus years of documenting and telling Black stories and advocating for Black people. Rod Doss, New Pittsburgh Courier Editor and Publisher, underscores the lasting importance of these archives.
“The Black press archives, in particular the New Pittsburgh Courier archives, are significant because of the role they play in recording untold history that was shared within the Black community across America and, of course, across the world for that matter, because we have foreign correspondents who told the story of African American accomplishments, events, and the people stories that were so significant and ignored by the larger white media,” Doss said. “So today when you see a movie about Tuskegee Airmen, you find that they got that story largely from the archives of Black press because that was where the story was told. In fact, many of the stories that we told resulted in the Courier, the Chicago Defender, the Michigan Chronicle, and several other newspapers being charged with sedition—a little-known fact of history about the importance of the stories that we told simply because the stories that we told were honest, true, and validated historically.”
“And as a result, the white press was chagrined to not be able to address them. The Attorney General at that time, during World War II, I believe it was, charged the Courier and all those other newspapers with sedition for their telling stories that the white press, that the white community did not want to hear. So, there’s a significance to the archives and those stories are being told today because they were only told within the confines of the Black press.”
This is why the work of Black journalists and Black media institutions remains non-negotiable. There is no replacement for the depth, care, and responsibility that Black reporters bring to our stories. The Chicago Defender was the publication that fueled the Great Migration, guiding Black families toward opportunity in the North when mainstream newspapers ignored them. The Atlanta Daily World pushed back against Jim Crow laws while white-owned media outlets upheld them. The Michigan Chronicle continues to lead in Michigan, telling stories that would otherwise go untold. The Pittsburgh Courier made sure that Ruby McCollum was not just seen but understood. When people ask why Black media matters, they need to look no further than the stories that would have been erased without it. The mainstream press, historically and presently, operates with a lens that does not always prioritize Black life. The documentation of our history, struggles, victories, and culture must remain in our hands. The reality is, if the Black press does not exist, neither does the full truth about Black people in America.
Doss also reflects on the legacy of the Black press. “Well, it goes back to the mission that was established in 1827 by Freedom’s Journal, by John B. Russwurm, who said for too long others have spoken for us; today we tell our own story. And that’s the significance of who we are today, the role we play and will continue to play, as it were, as it relates to recording history accurately and sharing it with our reading population. And so that’s where we are today. And I’m proud to be acquainted with that kind of accomplishment and that kind of historical significance.”
Every major civil rights moment was documented by the Black press. Every injustice that needed exposure was lifted by Black journalists. Without these publications, the legacy of Ruby McCollum would be a mere whisper in history, overshadowed by the narratives of those who benefited from her suffering. It is not just about what happened in the past; it is about what continues to happen. Today, as the fight against voter suppression, economic inequity, and systemic racism persists, Black media is still at the forefront. The Michigan Chronicle, under Hiram E. Jackson’s leadership, remains steadfast in its commitment to being the voice of the people.
Hiram E. Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media and publisher of the Michigan Chronicle, is ensuring that stories like Ruby McCollum’s do not get buried under the weight of historical erasure. Under his leadership, Black newsrooms across the country, including the Michigan Chronicle, Chicago Defender, and Atlanta Daily World, continue the essential work of telling the stories that shape the Black experience. Now, the Michigan Chronicle is bringing Ruby McCollum’s story to Detroit in a stage play, making sure that her legacy remains a conversation, not a footnote.
“The Black press has always been the safeguard of our truth,” Jackson shared. “Without it, too much of our history would be lost, too many of our stories untold. Our role is to document, uplift, and ensure that the voices of our community are never erased. The responsibility is heavy, but it is necessary. What we do today shapes how we are remembered tomorrow.”
Bringing Ruby McCollum’s story to the stage in Detroit is a powerful act of historical reclamation. It is a declaration that Black women’s pain, resistance, and triumphs deserve to be remembered. It is a call to action for the community to support and uplift the Black press, ensuring that the next generation understands its role in preserving and telling our truth. Additionally, it underscores the evolution of how the Black press tells Black stories in meaningful ways. First it was through word of mouth with stories and song, then it was through print, then through radio, then television and movies, and then came social media, but now, it’s on the stage.
“This isn’t just about reviving an important story or from 73 years ago. Bringing the story of Ruby McCollum to the Music Hall is truly about highlighting the evolution of storytelling by media companies. We can’t be stagnant in the way we go about documenting and telling our stories. We can’t be complacent about the way that we represent our history,” Jackson said. “’Ruby’ is the next step in the evolution of Michigan Chronicle and Real Times Media as an organization that pushes the envelope and continuously introduces new ways to tell our stories. And we’re not stopping here. We have a number of projects in the works that will continue to position us at the forefront of storytelling, and we’re excited to continue this evolution.”
The responsibility is ours. No one can tell our stories like we can. Black newspapers are not relics; they are lifelines that continue to evolve. The documentation of Black history does not stop with the past—it is happening now, every single day. And just like in the days of the Pittsburgh Courier, Black journalists and storytellers are here, making sure that no one erases the truth. Jackson is leading a movement, not just a media organization. The Michigan Chronicle’s commitment to keeping Black stories alive through every medium, from print to theater, is a testament to what it means to be the gatekeepers of our own history. The Black press is essential. It is a force. It is the reason Ruby McCollum’s story is still being told today.
The world cannot afford for us to stop writing, reporting, and documenting. Black journalists do not just cover the news—we are the protectors of Black truth. And that truth will always matter.
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