A Journalist’s Inheritance: The Legacy of the Black Press

I Write with the Ancestors is a visual and lyrical tribute to the Black journalists who dared to bear witness, to tell the truth when silence was safer, and to speak for us—before others tried to speak for us.

The ancestors handed me more than a pen—they handed me responsibility.

Michael R. Bailey

From Ida B. Wells to Frederick Douglass to W.E.B. Du Bois, this piece honors those whose pens cut through oppression and carved out space for justice. Today, that legacy lives on through words still being written—through voices like mine, and perhaps, through yours.

I follow the path of those who wrote in defiance—so that I could write in freedom.

Michael R. Bailey

This poem is a reflection on what it means to inherit not just ink and paper, but purpose. It is a reminder that storytelling is resistance, and journalism—when rooted in truth and community—is sacred.

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Michael R. Bailey

I am a native son of South Carolina. Born and bred in a former confederate state, I inherited my people's struggle and that battle has shaped me into an advocate and activist for the unheard and unseen. With my words and camera as my only weapon, I share with the world the beauty, uniqueness, and humanity of all those who are underrepresented. I highlight and levy praise on our triumphs, contextualize our struggles and vocalize unachieved goals. With every image I capture, I show the world, unconsidered perspectives and the unspoken truths that deserve to be heard.