Black Press Week recently held in Washington, D.C.

: Black Press Week was recently held in Washington, D.C., the annual celebration of the nearly two centuries-old mission of Black-owned newspapers, was fueled this year by the fact that the 183-year-old civil rights institution is continuing to plead its own cause even as it fights for the rights and honors the achievements of others. The very first Black newspaper was published on March 16, 1827. “It certainly is momentous because 183 years later with a Black President in the White House, we still have to plead our own cause.” says Dorothy R. Leavell, chair of the National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. These and other key Black Press issues and issues of Black America were points of discussion during a State of the Black Press Luncheon/Forum at the National Press Club on Thursday, March 18, 2010. The forum featured NNPA chairman Danny Bakewell giving a “State of the Black Press” address with a response by Leavell. Panelists included the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Bennett College; Dr. Ron Daniels; NAACP Chair Roslyn Brock; Harry Alford, National Black Chamber of Commerce; and Marc Morial, National Urban League.Pictured above following the luncheon are: Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Dorothy R. Leavell, and Larry Waters, director of multicultural relations at MillerCoors.