"Phillip Alexander Bell"(1808-1889)

African American journalist who was born in New York City cut his political teeth in early abolitionist politics in the Northwest.Philip attended Colored Citizens Conventions as early as 1830 and established his first newspaper,the Weekly Advocate,in 1837 after working for William Lloyd Garrison's Liberator.After migrating to San Francisco,California in 1860,he maintained his connections with important abolition leaders such as William & Frederick Douglass by reporting on African American political and economic opportunities in the West.
In 1862,Philip joined forces with Peter Anderson yo edit the Pacific Appeal,one of the first major African American newspapers in California,he and Peter clashed.By 1865,Philip established his own weekly newspaper,The Elevator,under the slogan,"Equality Before the Law." The Elevator demanded California legislators approve the proposed Reconstruction-era constitutional amendments acknowledging African American citizenships and suffrage rights.Philip also regularly editorialized on behalf of expanding African American children's educational opportunities.California state legislators repeatedly rejected efforts to grant African Americans greater civil rights,but the ratification of the 14th & 15th Amendments allowed African American male Californians voting rights in 1870.
Intially a strong supporter of the Republican Party,Philip organized the Idependent Equal Rights League in 1876 to lobby politticians across party lines to support African American opportunities.Peter charged Philip with seeking patronage perks,and most African Americans continued to support the Republican Party,Philip remained a powerful figure with African American California until his death.