The Chicago Defender was a prominent African American newspaper that played a crucial role in shaping Black history in the United States. Founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott, the newspaper was initially a four-page weekly publication that aimed to provide news and information to Black migrants who had moved to Chicago from the South during the Great Migration.

The Chicago Defender quickly gained a large readership and became known for its advocacy of civil rights, social justice, and economic empowerment for African Americans. The newspaper was instrumental in raising awareness about issues such as lynching, segregation, and discrimination, and it played a key role in promoting the ideals of the civil rights movement.

One of the Chicago Defender's most famous campaigns was the "Great Migration", where it actively encouraged African Americans to move from the rural South to the urban North in search of better opportunities and to escape racial violence and oppression. The newspaper's coverage of the injustices faced by Black Americans helped to galvanize support for the civil rights movement and push for social change.

Over the years, The Chicago Defender was a platform for many influential African American writers, journalists, and activists, including Langston Hughes, Ida B. Wells, and Ethel Payne. The newspaper's impact on Black history cannot be overstated, as it helped to shape public opinion, challenge stereotypes, and pave the way for progress towards racial equality in the United States.