121:"Opportunity is a venture inspired by a long insistent demand, both general and specific, for a journal of Negro life that would devote itself religiously to an interpretation of the social problems of the Negro population.... The policy of Opportunity will be definitely constructive. It will aim to present, objectively, facts of Negro life. It hopes, thru an analysis of these social questions, to provide a basis of understanding; encourage interracial co-operation in the working out of these problems."
163:, became the NUL's first executive secretary. The interracial character of the League's board was set from its first days; it was the template for Charles Johnson's approach to fostering interest, support, and occasion for African-American art and artists. Critics of the journal, as well as of the Harlem Renaissance, thought that Johnson's literary content may have been pandering to his white audience and patrons.
186:, Johnson immediately broadened the scope of the journal, from a purely sociological journal to a multi-faceted publication that included African-American arts. He published photographic essays, artworks, and poetry beside research studies. Powerful photojournalism illustrated the quality of life for working blacks across America.
263:
After 1928, when
Johnson accepted the presidency of Fisk University, chief editors of the journal included Elmer Anderson Carter (October 1928–January 1945), Madeline L. Aldridge (January 1945–June 1947), and Dutton Ferguson (July 1947–January 1949). Under Carter's editorship, the journal resumed its
140:, "Accurate and dependable facts can correct inaccurate and slanderous assertions that have gone unchallenged… and what is most important, to inculcate a disposition to see enough of interest and beauty of their own lives to rid themselves of the inferior feeling of being Negro".
117:. Topics centered on the social challenges faced by black people at the time, including access to employment, housing, sanitation and education. The journal's motto "Opportunity not Alms" describes the editorial direction, as does the journal's manifesto:
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Johnson is credited for organizing and promoting literary parties, which successfully brought together
African-American artists and white patrons of money and letters. From 1924 to 1927, Johnson sponsored three literary contests.
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and the journal's literary contests, the first of which received 732 entries. The literary contest became essential to the promotion of the Harlem
Renaissance's writers and artists. The May 1925 issue of
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said, "The results of the
Renaissance have been sad rather than satisfactory, in that critical standards have been ignored and the measure of achievement has been racial rather than literary"
236:. From 1925 to 1927 Johnson provided over three contest award dinners where on average almost 350 black artists and white patrons and publishers attended. According to
182:, the journal was instrumental in providing breaks for new artists through its literary contests and literary parties. As the first editor-in-chief of
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While the journal was published from 1923 to 1949, its main influence on
African-American literature was from 1923 to 1928. The immediate objective of
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focus for publishing sociological studies of
African Americans and continued with this purpose until it ceased publication in 1949.
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were conducted and funded by NUL and supported the social mission of an academic journal connected with the missions of NUL and
244:, these events provided enthusiasm for African-American artists, increased white patronage, and provided exposure to the major
354:
Gilpin, Patrick. "Charles S. Johnson: An
Intellectual Biography," PhD dissertation, Vanderbilt University Press, 1973. Print
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Under
Johnson's editorship the journal's circulation rose to 11,000 in 1928. While not as widely read as
312:
Library of
Congress, n.d. 29 Feb. 2012. N. W. Ayer & Son's Directory of Newspapers and Periodicals.
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199:, a regular contributor to the journal, introduced Johnson to Harlem's notorious gambling kingpin,
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lists a number of prizewinners who went on to enjoy successful publishing careers:
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101:. It was published monthly from 1923 to 1942 and then quarterly through 1949.
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93:(NUL). The journal acted as a sociological forum for the emerging topic of
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was to publish dependable data concerning black life and race relations.
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A Bibliography of
Charles Spurgeon Johnson's Published Writings
325:(1990): n.pag. Literature Resource Center. January 24, 2012.
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N. W. Ayer And Son's American Newspaper Annual And Directory.
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and was known for fostering the literary culture during the
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American Magazine Journalists, 1900-1960: First Series 91
345:
Johnson, Charles. "The Rise of the Negro Magazine."
296:Ikonne, Chidi. "Opportunity and Black Literature,"
321:Stroman, Carolyn A. "Charles S(purgeon) Johnson."
359:The Harlem Renaissance: A Gale Critical Companion
342:, Nashville, Tenn.: Fisk University, 1970. Print.
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151:, the white widow of a railroad magnate, and
109:The studies published in the early issues of
155:. Haynes, a graduate of Fisk University,
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380:Academic journals established in 1923
375:Defunct journals of the United States
285:Opportunity the Journal of Negro Life
203:. Holstein became a major patron of
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82:Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life
21:Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life
385:Publications disestablished in 1949
147:'s founding were two patrons: Mrs.
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361:. Gale Group, 2002. 1500. Print.
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348:Journal of Negro History
95:African-American studies
287:, January 1923: N. pag.
283:Johnson, Charles, ed.
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149:Ruth Standish Baldwin
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91:National Urban League
39:National Urban League
338:Gardiner, George L.
153:George Edmund Haynes
161:Columbia University
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390:Sociology journals
218:Zora Neale Hurston
134:Charles S. Johnson
99:Harlem Renaissance
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240:, contributor to
190:Literary contests
89:published by the
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357:Witalec, Janet.
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157:Yale University
131:Editor-in-chief
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242:Opportunity
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184:Opportunity
145:Opportunity
143:Central to
138:Opportunity
127:Opportunity
111:Opportunity
53:Final issue
369:Categories
268:References
173:The Crisis
254:MacMillan
35:Publisher
27:Frequency
71:Language
258:Harpers
105:History
85:was an
74:English
61:Country
45:Founded
30:Monthly
298:Phylon
256:, and
232:, and
159:, and
250:Knopf
56:1949
48:1923
260:).
176:or
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