John Mitchell, Jr., "Fighting Editor"
Posted by: garmin_geek
N 37° 32.696 W 077° 26.294
18S E 284596 N 4158120
"Although he has largely receded from the public consciousness, John Mitchell Jr., the editor and publisher of the Richmond Planet, was well known to many black, and not a few white, Americans in his day."
Waymark Code: WMPNN6
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 09/27/2015
Views: 5
Born enslaved near Richmond in 1863, John Mitchell, Jr. came of age in the tumultuous post–Civil War era. In 1883, he launched a daring journalism career, becoming editor and publisher of the black-owned Richmond Planet once located near here. Known as the "Fighting Editor," Mitchell crusaded against lynching, served on the Richmond City Council (1888–1896) and founded the Mechanics Savings Bank in 1902. In 1904, he led a boycott of Richmond’s segregated streetcars. In 1921, he ran for governor to protest black disfranchisement. Mitchell served as Planet editor until his death in 1929. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. Department of Historic Resources 2005
Marker Number: SA-73
Marker Title: John Mitchell, Jr., "Fighting Editor"
Marker Location: Corner E. Marshall and N. 3rd Street, Richmond, VA
County or Independent City: Richmond
Web Site: [Web Link]
Marker Program Sponsor: Department of Historic Resources 2005
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