Race relations were of primary concern to Julius F. Taylor and his weekly newspaper, the Broad Ax.
Published between 1895 and 1899, the Broad Ax was known as a black newspaper, one of four black newspaper in Salt Lake City during the time.
Julius F. Taylor was a self described heathen, as a black man was treated as a second-class citizen, and he single-handedly produced the weekly newspaper the Broad Ax between 1895 and 1899 in Salt Lake City.
Taylor’s newspaper primary catered to the black population of Salt Lake, but with fewer than 600 African American residences in all of Utah at the time, and many of them struggling to make a living as cooks, barbers, waiters, porters, and other low paying jobs, a subscription to a political commentary newspaper was not a priority.
As such, Taylor’s newspaper was not a financial success in Salt Lake City. However, his commentary on equality of all people, advocacy for ethnic minorities to migrate to the Democratic party, and his social commentary gave him credibility within the Salt Lake City political scene, an office in the Utah Press Association, and earned him public speaking engagements (for which he earned most of his living).
In his newspaper, the Broad Axe, Taylor primarily reprinted news from cities with large black populations, often lectured black and white Utahns on the virtues of the Democratic Party and explaining how the Republican patty had abandoned the President Lincoln era ideals. The paper also reviewed books and articles relating to race relations and commented on the continuity of slavery through poor wages and for the need for equality of all people.
Taylor was not a fan of organized religion and often spoke against the prejudices of many of the churches – Mormons and others. Taylor was seeking equal rights for all people and often editorialized his opinions. However, Taylor was a Gentleman and believed in polite conversation and engagement which often lead him to curtail much of his commentary.
Eventually, Taylor found Utah to be too stifling and he and his wife moved to Chicago which housed a larger black population. Taylor continued to published the Broad Axe newspaper in Chicago and with the more diverse population his paper found many loyal readers.
Although not the only black newspaper of the era, Julius F. Taylor was certainly a well spoken individual who wished nothing more than to for all people to have tolerance for others.
Sources and External Links
Julius F.Taylor and the Broad Ax of Salt Lake City. By Michael S. Sweeney. Utah Historical Quarterly, 2009.
The Broad Ax and the Plain Dealer Kept Utah's African Americans Informed. By Jeffrey D. Nichols. Utah History to Go
Comments