1882–1922 weekly The ''Bee's'' publication history coincided with a two-generation period of American history during which the political roles of African Americans were sharply constrained by the politically reactionary
Redeemers. Successful professional-level African Americans, such as editor Chase, faced ceaseless political battles in order to hold on to the limited gains made in previous generations. Chase's editorials at first criticized
accommodationist black leaders such as
Booker T. Washington, but later made peace with the influential Tuskegee leader. The
Bee shared the Washington, D.C. market with a rival weekly, the
Colored American, and Washington's private papers indicate that he and his network provided financial support to both news sheets. The ''Bee's
nameplate slogan was "Sting for Our Enemies – Honey for Our Friends", and according to the Library of Congress, "the Bee
represented the Republican attitudes of its editor, although Chase did not hesitate to criticize Republican Party leaders when he thought they were on the wrong side of an issue." Washington American, and Washington Eagle''.
Layout and price The Washington Bee was a six-column
broadsheet, typical of the newspapers of its day. An issue from May 1886, illustrated here, depicts the weekly's typical
layout. At least two front-page columns were devoted to
display and
classified advertising, with much of the remaining four columns used for brief references and updates about continuing news stories with which it was assumed that newspaper
subscribers would already be familiar. In May 1886, the
Bee was priced at five cents for a single issue, with a subscription costing $2 a year. The
Bee′s acceptance of advertising necessitated active acceptance of the overall social customs of its day, including residential
segregation. For example, in a June 1893 display advertisement, developers in
Bowie, Maryland, touted what they called: The first opportunity offered colored people to secure Homes on Weekly payments of 50 cents a week or Two Dollars per month – 1000 Lots For Sale – In the city of Bowie, State of Maryland. Only 20 minutes ride from Washington. Double track. 22 trains stop daily. Fare to and from Washington, only Six cents by commutation ticket.
National influence Even though African American residents of Washington did not have a formal voice in national affairs, as the
District of Columbia lacked congressional representation and votes in the presidential
Electoral College, Chase and the
Bee could speak out informally; and the Library of Congress believes that the
Bee was "one of the most influential African American newspapers in the country."
Typical coverage The
Washington Bee would sometimes accord significant coverage to news stories involving
crime, including criminal acts that did not involve the African American community. Examples include a June 1893
Bee "
lede", or lead paragraph, describing the
Lizzie Borden case: The trial of one of the most sensational murder cases of modern times began on Monday at Fall River, Mass. Lizzie Borden, a young woman of 27 years, is held to answer for the murder of her father, Andrew J. Borden, 68 years of age, and her step-mother, Mrs. Abbie Borden, her father's second wife. The tragedy was inexpressibly fiendish and bloody. Both victims were killed by blows of a hatchet or axe, and were terribly mutilated by repeated blows. ==Current status==