John H. Sengstacke was a pioneering newspaper publisher who played a vital role in amplifying African-American voices through his influential newspapers, including The Chicago Defender. Sengstacke was also a civil rights activist and worked for a strong black press, founding the National Newspaper Publishers Association in 1940, to unify and strengthen African-American owned papers and served seven terms as president of the association. His commitment to journalism and his advocacy for civil rights made him a significant figure in American media history.
