JET Magazine wad founded in 1951 by John H. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois. During its beginning, it was marketed as “The Weekly Negro News Magazine” and is famous for its role in covering the Civil Rights movement, including coverage of the Emmett Till murder, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Before the internet and especially during the 50s and 60s Jet became one of the great mediums of connecting Black culture across the United States in all of its aspects; entertainment, opinions, politics, and fashion.
We have compiled a slideshow of all of the JET covers from 1952, the magazine’s second year of existence. Many of the headlines might shock you because of their blatant internalized racism and sexism but you have to realize they are a reflection of society during those times. These titles give a great lens with which one can understand what was important to Blacks during these times.
What differences do you see between media targeted at Blacks today and that of 1952? Let us know in the comment section.
Click on the arrows below to see the slideshow.
January 3, 1952
January 10, 1952
January 17, 1952
January 24, 1952
January 31, 1952
February 1952
February 7, 1952
February 14, 1952
February 28, 1952
March 1952
March 6, 1952
March 20, 1952
March 27, 1952
April 3, 1952
April 10, 1952
April 17, 1952
April 24, 1952
May 1, 1952
May 15, 1952
May 22, 1952
May 29, 1952
June 1952
June 5, 1952
June 12, 1952
July 3, 1952
July 10, 1952
July 17, 1952
July 24, 1952
July 31, 1952
August 1952
August 14, 1952
August 21, 1952
September 1952
September 25, 1952
October 1952
October 9, 1952
October 16, 1952
October 30, 1952
November 6, 1952
November 13, 1952
November 20, 1952
November 27, 1952
December 4, 1952
December 11, 1952
December 18, 1952
December 25, 1952