Andrew W. Cooper
Encyclopedia
Andrew W. Cooper was an African American
civil rights activist, businessman
, and journalist
. He was the publisher and editor-in-chief of The City Sun
.
Cooper was born in 1927 in Brooklyn
, New York
. He attended Boys High School and Adelphi University
. From 1951 through 1971, he was an executive of the F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company
.
In 1965, Cooper brought suit under the Voting Rights Act
against racial gerrymandering
. African Americans and Latinos made up the majority of the Bedford-Stuyvesant
neighborhood in which he lived, but the neighborhood was divided among five congressional district
s, each represented by a white Congressmember
. Cooper opposed districts drawn in what he described as "so tortuous, artificial and labyrinthine a manner that the lines are irrational and unrelated to any proper purpose". His lawsuit, Cooper v. Power, was successful. It resulted in the creation of New York's 12th Congressional District
and the election in 1968 of Shirley Chisholm
, the first black woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress
.
In the 1970s, Cooper left the business world to become a journalist. He started the Trans-Urban News Service (TUNS) in 1977, with the dual goals of training minority journalists and producing reporting that was relevant to their communities. The Public Relations Society of America
gave TUNS its top award in 1979 for its multi-part series on racial tensions between blacks and Jews in Crown Heights
. Cooper wrote a weekly column, "One Man's Opinion", for the Amsterdam News and also wrote for The Village Voice
.
Cooper founded The City Sun, a weekly newspaper that covered issues of interest to African American
s in New York City
, in 1984. According to The New York Times
, The City Sun had a circulation of 18,500 in 1987. Financial difficulties forced Cooper to shut down The City Sun in 1996.
Cooper was recognized as Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists
in 1987 for his work at The City Sun.
Cooper died in Brooklyn in 2002 of a stroke.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
civil rights activist, businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
, and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He was the publisher and editor-in-chief of The City Sun
The City Sun
The City Sun was a weekly newspaper that was published in Brooklyn from 1984 through 1996. Its primary focus was on issues of interest to African Americans in New York City....
.
Cooper was born in 1927 in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He attended Boys High School and Adelphi University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
. From 1951 through 1971, he was an executive of the F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company
Schaefer Beer
Schaefer Beer is a brand of American beer. Schaefer Beer was first produced in 1842 by the F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company. The name "Schaefer" is derived from the last name of founding brothers Frederick and Maximiliam Schaefer....
.
In 1965, Cooper brought suit under the Voting Rights Act
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of national legislation in the United States that outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S....
against racial gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
In the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
. African Americans and Latinos made up the majority of the Bedford-Stuyvesant
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Bedford-Stuyvesant is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Formed in 1930, the neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 3, Brooklyn Community Board 8 and Brooklyn Community Board 16. The neighborhood is patrolled by the NYPD's 79th and 81st...
neighborhood in which he lived, but the neighborhood was divided among five congressional district
Congressional district
A congressional district is “a geographical division of a state from which one member of the House of Representatives is elected.”Congressional Districts are made up of three main components, a representative, constituents, and the specific land area that both the representative and the...
s, each represented by a white Congressmember
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Cooper opposed districts drawn in what he described as "so tortuous, artificial and labyrinthine a manner that the lines are irrational and unrelated to any proper purpose". His lawsuit, Cooper v. Power, was successful. It resulted in the creation of New York's 12th Congressional District
New York's 12th congressional district
New York's 12th Congressional District is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives located in New York City. It includes parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan...
and the election in 1968 of Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was an American politician, educator, and author. She was a Congresswoman, representing New York's 12th Congressional District for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In 1968, she became the first black woman elected to Congress...
, the first black woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
In the 1970s, Cooper left the business world to become a journalist. He started the Trans-Urban News Service (TUNS) in 1977, with the dual goals of training minority journalists and producing reporting that was relevant to their communities. The Public Relations Society of America
Public Relations Society of America
The ' , based in New York City, is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. The organization has more than 21,000 members, including professionals from public relations agencies, corporations, government, health care institutions, military, professional services firms,...
gave TUNS its top award in 1979 for its multi-part series on racial tensions between blacks and Jews in Crown Heights
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Crown Heights is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The main thoroughfare through this neighborhood is Eastern Parkway, a tree-lined boulevard designed by Frederick Law Olmsted extending two miles east-west.Originally, the area was known as Crow Hill....
. Cooper wrote a weekly column, "One Man's Opinion", for the Amsterdam News and also wrote for The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
.
Cooper founded The City Sun, a weekly newspaper that covered issues of interest to African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in 1984. According to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The City Sun had a circulation of 18,500 in 1987. Financial difficulties forced Cooper to shut down The City Sun in 1996.
Cooper was recognized as Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Black Journalists
The National Association of Black Journalists is an organization of African American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 1975 in Washington, D.C...
in 1987 for his work at The City Sun.
Cooper died in Brooklyn in 2002 of a stroke.