Ronald Bishop is a professor in the Department of Communication at Drexel University, Philadelphia. He has published six books, including most recently The Thematic Evolution of Sports Journalism's Narrative of Mental Illness: A Little Less Conversation.

"The Total Black Experience evokes the sense of urgency and commitment among Black activists and journalists who launched the innovative and foundational Positively Black in 1970. But Ron Bishop's fascinating account, rooted in invaluable oral histories and rich context, stretches beyond the crucible of civil rights and Black Power, offering a lens into a half-century of Black history and a nuanced analysis of media representation and social change. It is a critical source for readers interested in journalism and media, history, and activism." - Julia Rabig, author of The Fixers: Devolution, Development, and Civil Society in Newark, 1960–1990

• Introduction 1 1 The Last Word 15 2 Episode 1 36 3 Being the Church 55 4 At the Head of the Table 70 5 The Guiding Light 86 6 It's OK to Be Black, to Say Black 95 7 Piecing It Together 113 8 We Are Not There Yet 125 9 Bringing Us Current 146 10 Positively Black Today 163 Acknowledgments 173 Notes 175 Bibliography 205 Index 000

Ronald Bishop is a professor in the Department of Communication at Drexel University, Philadelphia. He has published six books, including most recently The Thematic Evolution of Sports Journalism's Narrative of Mental Illness: A Little Less Conversation.

"The Total Black Experience evokes the sense of urgency and commitment among Black activists and journalists who launched the innovative and foundational Positively Black in 1970. But Ron Bishop's fascinating account, rooted in invaluable oral histories and rich context, stretches beyond the crucible of civil rights and Black Power, offering a lens into a half-century of Black history and a nuanced analysis of media representation and social change. It is a critical source for readers interested in journalism and media, history, and activism." - Julia Rabig, author of The Fixers: Devolution, Development, and Civil Society in Newark, 1960–1990

• Introduction 1 1 The Last Word 15 2 Episode 1 36 3 Being the Church 55 4 At the Head of the Table 70 5 The Guiding Light 86 6 It's OK to Be Black, to Say Black 95 7 Piecing It Together 113 8 We Are Not There Yet 125 9 Bringing Us Current 146 10 Positively Black Today 163 Acknowledgments 173 Notes 175 Bibliography 205 Index 000