Charlotta A. Bass stands among the most influential African Americans
of the twentieth century. She was a crusading journalist, pioneering
civil rights leader, and far-sighted political candidate who ran for
vice president of the United States on the Progressive Party ticket
in 1952. She was at the forefront of the important struggles of her
time, especially in Los Angeles, but also in California and the nation.
Bass and her newspaper, the California Eagle, served the
people--fighting for them, speaking for them, and leading them in
battles against inequality and injustice.
The Southern California Library holds the personal papers of Charlotta Bass
and offers many other unique and accessible collections and programs on Southern
California's social and progressive history. We engage people across generations
in using history to advance social justice.
