Unladylike2020: Unsung Women Who Changed America Season 1 Episode 26 Charlotta Spears Bass: Newspaper Editor, Civil Rights Crusader & The First Black Woman to Run for Vice President of the U.S.

Unladylike2020: Unsung Women Who Changed America is a documentary series that celebrates the stories of remarkable women who defied social norms and worked tirelessly to challenge the systemic inequalities that have oppressed women in America. In the 26th episode of season 1, we are introduced to Charlotta Spears Bass, a remarkable woman who was a pioneering journalist, civil rights activist, and trailblazing politician.

Charlotta Spears Bass was born in South Carolina in 1874. As a young woman, she moved to Rhode Island to attend Pembroke College, where she studied journalism. After graduating, Bass worked as an editor and writer for several Black newspapers in the Northeast, including the New York Age and the Indianapolis Freeman. She eventually moved to Los Angeles, where she became the editor and publisher of the California Eagle, one of the most influential Black newspapers on the West Coast.

During her tenure at the California Eagle, Bass became a leading voice in the fight for civil rights and racial justice. She used her platform to expose police brutality, lynchings, and other forms of systemic racism, and she advocated for desegregation in schools and public spaces. In 1940, Bass made history when she became the first Black woman to run for vice president of the United States, running on the Progressive Party ticket alongside presidential candidate Norman Thomas. Though the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, Bass's nomination was a historic milestone and a testament to her trailblazing spirit.

This episode of Unladylike2020 explores Bass's remarkable life and legacy through interviews with historians, journalists, and activists. Viewers will learn about the challenges Bass faced as a Black woman in the male-dominated worlds of journalism and politics, and they will be inspired by her courage, determination, and unwavering dedication to justice. Along the way, the episode also shines a light on some of Bass's lesser-known accomplishments, such as her role in founding the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and her work organizing political campaigns for Black candidates in California.

Throughout the episode, viewers will be struck by the relevance of Bass's story to the present day. Her fight for civil rights and racial justice continues to resonate, and her legacy reminds us that the struggle for equality and justice must be ongoing. Through archival footage, compelling interviews, and evocative storytelling, Unladylike2020: Unsung Women Who Changed America season 1 episode 26 sheds new light on one of America's most inspiring women and encourages us all to carry on her legacy.