Delilah Beasley was a columnist for the Oakland Tribune and was the first African American woman to be published regularly in a major U.S. newspaper.
She is most known for her book “The Negro Trail-Blazers of California,” published in 1919 and reprinted in 1968.
Early Life
Delilah Leontium Beasley was born Cincinnati, Ohio, just after the Civil War on September 9, 1871 (some report 1867) to Daniel Beasley, an engineer, and Margaret Harris.
Beasley began her newspaper career in 1887, writing for the black newspaper, the Cleveland Gazette on church and social activities.
After her parents’ death, she went to Chicago and took a position to learn massage: she desired to become a nurse, which she became a few years later.
She traveled to California to nurse a former patient and stayed.
After moving to Oakland in 1910 at the age of 39, she wrote for the Oakland Sunshine and the Western Outlook.
In 1910 3,055 African Americans were living in Oakland.
Trail-Blazers
To help her race; to open doors into the arts and sciences for the negro boys and girls, has been the impelling force for Delilah Beasley”
Los Angeles Times Jul 13, 1919
Beasley spent the first nine years in Oakland researching Black Americans’ history in the west at the University of California at Berkeley. She also would give presentations at local churches.
In 1919 she self-published a book called The Negro Trail Blazers of California. The book chronicled African American “firsts” and notable achievements in early California. The book includes diaries, biographical sketches, poetry, photographs, old papers, conversations with old pioneers, and a comprehensive history of early legislation and court cases.
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Activities Among Negroes
Her book paved the way for Beasley to become the first African American women in California to write regularly for a major metropolitan newspaper. She worked for the Oakland Tribune from 1923 to 1934 and wrote a weekly column entitled “Activities Among Negroes.” The column carried civic and religious news of the black community
Civic Organizations
Beasley was determined to advance the rights of African Americans and women; she joined many civic clubs. These included the NAACP, the Alameda County League of Women Voters, the National Association of Colored Women, the Oakland Council of Church Women, and the Linden Center Young Women’s Christian Association.
She was an honorary member of the League of Nations Association of Northern California.
Delilah died at the age of 62 on August 18, 1934. Beasley is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
She live for many years at 705- 34th Street.
More Info:
- Delilah L. Beasley – Wikipedia
- Delilah Beasley – Oakland local wiki
- Rebel Girls from Bay Area History: Delilah L. Beasley, Pioneering Journalist – KQED
- Delilah Beasley Ep 60 – East Bay Yesterday
- Delilah Beasley – Find A Grave
- A Notable Achievement – Los Angeles Times July 13, 1919
- In Memoriam Miss Delilah L. Beasley – Oakland Tribune October 14, 1934
- Memorial to be Held – Oakland Tribune May 24, 1936
- Tribute Paid Women Writer – Oakland Tribune June 1, 1936
- Museum Will Mark Black History Week – Oakland Tribune June 14, 1972
Wonderful research! Thank you for sharing!