The Crisis (magazine)

The Crisis (magazine). The Crisis is the official magazine of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Founded in 1910 by W. E. B. Du Bois, it is one of the oldest and most influential publications dedicated to African-American affairs, serving as a critical platform for civil rights advocacy, political commentary, and the Harlem Renaissance. For over a century, it has documented and propelled the struggle for racial equality and social justice in the United States.

History and founding

The Crisis was first published in November 1910, with W. E. B. Du Bois as its founding editor. It was established as the house organ of the newly formed National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), an organization co-founded by Du Bois, Moorfield Storey, Mary White Ovington, and others. The magazine's title was inspired by James Russell Lowell's poem "The Present Crisis," reflecting Du Bois's view of the era as a pivotal moment in the fight for African-American rights. Its founding mission was to set out "those facts and arguments which show the danger of race prejudice" and to advocate for political and social equality. Initial funding was secured with a $10,000 grant from a donor, allowing Du Bois to operate with significant editorial independence from the NAACP board. The first issue sold out its run of 1,000 copies, and circulation grew rapidly, reaching a peak of over 100,000 by 1919, making it a powerful national voice.

Role in the NAACP and civil rights advocacy

As the NAACP's primary publication, The Crisis served as the organization's ideological and informational spearhead. It reported on and condemned lynchings, Jim Crow laws, and disfranchisement, providing grim statistics and firsthand accounts that fueled the NAACP's anti-lynching campaign and legal challenges. The magazine was instrumental in publicizing the horrors of events like the East St. Louis riots of 1917 and the Red Summer of 1919. It consistently advocated for federal anti-lynching legislation, such as the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill. Editorially, it promoted the NAACP's central strategy of using litigation and legislation to secure constitutional rights, a strategy that culminated in landmark cases like Brown v. Board of Education. During the Montgomery bus boycott and the broader civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, The Crisis covered movement leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and the work of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Literary and artistic contributions

Beyond journalism, The Crisis was a seminal patron of African-American literature and art, particularly during the Harlem Renaissance. Under Du Bois's editorship, it published early works by luminaries such as Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Jean Toomer, and Zora Neale Hurston. The magazine's annual literary contests, judged by figures like Fannie Hurst, discovered and encouraged new talent. It also featured illustrations and commentary on visual art, promoting artists like Aaron Douglas who sought to create a distinct Black aesthetic. This commitment made The Crisis a central forum for debating the role of art in racial advancement, famously engaging in debates with Alain Locke and others over "art for art's sake" versus propagandistic art.

Editorial leadership and key figures

The magazine's character has been profoundly shaped by its editors. W. E. B. Du Bois guided it from 1910 to 1934, establishing its militant, intellectual tone. His successor, Roy Wilkins (1934–1949), who later became the NAACP's executive secretary, steered it through the Great Depression and World War II, focusing more squarely on organizational policy. James Weldon Johnson, though not a long-term editor, was a major contributor and NAACP leader whose writings frequently appeared. Later editors included Henry Lee Moon and, in the modern era, Jabari Asim. The magazine's staff and contributors have included pivotal figures in Black journalism and activism, such as Jessie Redmon Fauset, who served as literary editor and was a noted novelist in her own right.

Impact on public discourse and policy

The Crisis wielded significant influence in shaping national dialogue on race. Its investigative reporting brought the realities of racial violence into the homes of both Black and white Americans, influencing progressive allies and helping to shift public opinion. The magazine's arguments for integration and equal rights provided the intellectual underpinnings for the civil rights movement's goals. It kept pressure on political figures, from President Woodrow Wilson—whom it criticized for segregating the federal workforce—to President Lyndon B. Johnson during the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. By providing a consistent, documented record of injustice and resistance, it became an indispensable historical archive and a tool for mobilization.

Evolution and modern relevance

After its mid-20th century peak, The Crisis faced challenges including declining circulation, financial difficulties, and competition from other media. It transitioned from a monthly to a quarterly publication. In the 21st century, it continues as the NAACP's magazine, addressing contemporary issues such as mass incarceration, police brutality, voter suppression, and environmental justice. It maintains its focus on civil rights advocacy while also covering topics like African-American culture, education, and economic inequality. While its format and reach have evolved, its core mission, as articulated by Du Bois, remains: to be a "journal of opinion and a record of the darker races" and a catalyst for justice and equity. It serves as a living legacy, connecting the foundational struggles of the early NAACP to the ongoing movement for Black liberation.