25 LC 129 0451
House Resolution 988
By: Representatives Jackson of the 165
th
, Westbrook of the 163
rd
, Stephens of the 164
th
,
Gilliard of the 162
nd
, and Hitchens of the 161
st
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending The Savannah Tribune; and for other purposes.
1
WHEREAS, during the years between the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the2
beginning of the Reconstruction Era in 1865, three Savannah African American civic and3
business leaders, John H. DeVeaux, Louis B. Toomer, Sr., and Louis M. Pleasant, took4
advantage of this brief period of opportunities for African Americans in the South,5
recognizing the need for a newspaper dedicated to covering news and issues related to the6
African-American community of Savannah; and7
WHEREAS, despite facing an unfavorable environment of segregation and resistance from8
white citizens with policies designed to block black progress, DeVeaux, Toomer, and9
Pleasant moved forward with personal resources from DeVeaux, who was born in 1848 to10
a free black family, to finance the establishment of The Colored Tribune in 1875, renamed11
The Savannah Tribune in 1876, for the stated purpose of defending "the rights of the colored12
people and their elevation to the highest plane of citizenship;" and13
WHEREAS, The Tribune, one of the first African American-owned and operated newspapers14
in the United States, was published until 1878, when forced to close because white printers15
in the city refusing to produce the newspaper; and16
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WHEREAS, DeVeaux and R.W. White founded The Tribune Publishing Company with its
17
own printing plant and reopened The Savannah Tribune in 1886, with DeVeaux serving as18
editor until 1889, when he was appointed as Collector of Customs, and relocated to19
Brunswick, Georgia, after which Savannah businessman, Soloman "Sol" C. Johnson,20
assumed editorship and upon DeVeaux's death in 1909 became owner of The Tribune; and21
WHEREAS, under Sol Johnson's editorship, The Tribune served as the only print source in22
south Georgia and north Florida for news about race riots and the injustices of the Jim Crow23
era such as lynchings and the lack of educational opportunities that were imposed upon24
blacks; and25
WHEREAS, upon the death of Sol C. Johnson in 1954, his Goddaughter, Willa Ayers26
Johnson, who worked as secretary at The Tribune, assumed ownership and published The27
Tribune until September 1960, when it closed its doors; and28
WHEREAS, The Savannah Tribune was re-established in 1973, by banker Robert E. James,29
who was owner and publisher until 1983, when his wife, Shirley Barber James, a community30
leader and university educator, became the publisher and sole owner; and31
WHEREAS, with the exception of hiatuses from 1878 to 1886, and 1960 to 1973, The32
Savannah Tribune has operated continuously, even in the wake of a devastating fire in33
January 2006, when the local journalism community rallied around The Tribune such that it34
was able to continue the proud tradition of not missing a publication date since its rebirth in35
1973.36
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES t hat37
the members of this body recognize The Savannah Tribune as a beacon in journalism,38
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celebrate 150 years as a valued Savannah tradition on June 28, 2025, and commend its
39
continuing proud legacy of championing causes that uplift African Americans locally,40
regionally, and nationally through print and digital media.41
42
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized43
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to44
Shirley Barber James, publisher of The Savannah Tribune.45
H. R. 988
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