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Presidential Citizens Medal Recipient John H. Sengstacke
John Sengstacke served as President of the Chicago Defender until his death in 1997. In 1940, Sengstacke was the driving force behind the founding of the Negro Newspaper Publishers Association, known today as the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).
Newspaper publisher John H. Sengstacke, 84, center, flanked by President Harry S Truman and Mayor Richard J. Daley) had been at the helm of the Chicago Defender since 1940. A publisher of the old school, Mr. Sengstacke was not afraid to use his position to gain important advances for blacks, including opening the door to the first African AmericanWhite House correspondent. He also sat on a panel, appointed by President Harry S. Truman, that led to the integration of the armed services.
CITATION:
(posthumously)
A lifetime crusader for equal opportunity for African Americans, John Sengstacke used the power of the press to bring our nation closer to its ideals. As owner, publisher, and editor of the legendary Chicago Defender, he provided a national forum for African American issues, nurtured the talents of generations of African American journalists, and played a crucial role in helping to integrate the Armed Forces, major league baseball, the U.S. Postal Service, and the White House press corps.
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Citizens Medal History
