Oral history interview with C. A. Scott, 1971.

Biographical Note

Cornelius Adolphus "C.A." Scott (1908-2002) was exposed to printing at an early age through his parents and as a high schooler worked at the Maroon Tiger, Morehouse College at Atlanta University's paper. A few months before graduating from high school, he dropped out to become the publisher of the Atlanta Daily World with his brother, W.A. Scott III. By the 1930s, he owned fifty newspapers, a number that would decline in subsequent decades. Scott was inducted into the Black Press Hall of Fame in 1990.

Scope and Contents

In this 1971 interview conducted by Henry La Brie III, Cornelius Adolphus "C. A." Scott describes his early experiences with printing and how that affected his work as publisher and editor of the Atlanta Daily World. He explains why the Daily World supported certain political candidates and movements over others, how he used the paper for justice, and how unions have affected the paper. Scott discusses the distinguishing features of a black newspaper, the future of the black press and advertising, and his own impact on journalism. He describes the changes of the white press as stagnant over time and talks about the successes of the black press and its role in society. Finally, he explains why the black press was being an important area of study at the time of the interview.

Subjects

• African American journalists.
• African American press.
• African Americans--Civil rights.
• Atlanta (Ga.)--Newspapers.
• Editors--Interviews.
• Family-owned business enterprises.
• Interviews.
• Journalism--Political aspects.
• Journalism--Social aspects.
• Journalists--Interviews.
• La Brie, Henry G., interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Scott, C. A. (Cornelius Adolphus), 1908-2000--Interviews.
• United States--Race relations.