Charles Tisdale, publisher of the legendary Jackson Advocate, often called “the most fire-bombed newspaper in America,” died July 7 at age 80 after a battle with diabetes.
“He was civil rights, 24-7,” says his wife of 23 years, Alice Thomas-Tisdale, associate editor of the paper. She will now assume his former role as publisher.
“He sat at the table of kings, but he was always with those who were the less fortunate.”
U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss) said, “I will always remember Charles Tisdale as a man of extraordinary courage, who cared deeply about the struggles of African Americans fighting for justice.”
Benjamin Todd Jealous, former executive director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) who delivered the eulogy on Saturda, said, “Mr. Tisdale lived his life with fearless devotion to telling the truth and defending the defenseless.”
The Advocate, in existence since 1938, was purchased by Tisdale in the 1970s. It is a member of NNPA, a federation of more than 200 black-owned newspapers.
NNPA Chairman John B. Smith Sr., publisher of the Atlanta Inquirer, said, “The Black Press of America has lost another champion for human rights.”
A graduate of Lemoyne College in Memphis, “Mr. T,” as he was fondly called, moved to Chicago in 1950. There, he worked for the Chicago Defender.
“I met Richard Wright in Chicago when he was giving a lecture around 1951,” Tisdale said. “The advice Richard gave us was ‘stick to your craft.’”
Tisdale received death threats because of his stances. His newspaper was firebombed at twice, most recently in 1998 when someone poured gasoline inside the building and threw molotov cocktails through windows.
Tisdale said the Klan machine-gunned the office because “they didn’t like what I had to say.” Reportedly, some 3,000 rounds were shot into Tisdale’s building.
Tisdale was diagnosed as a diabetic in 1991 and subsequently lost eight toes due to poor circulation.
Born Nov. 5, 1926, in Athens, Ala., Tisdale is the father of three children-Charles Jr., Beverly and DeAnna.
Thomas-Tisdale says although her husband was fierce on civil rights, he also had a soft side.
“He liked to bake biscuits, watch football and listen to his daughters sing,” she says warmly.
But, mostly, he’ll be remembered for his courage.
NNPA Foundation Chairwoman Dorothy Leavell, publisher of the Chicago Crusader, said, “Although his coverage and illumination of the issues were dangerous and he personally lost property, he continued until the end in the fight.”