One of our stories honoring Black History Month is that of the Bluff City Post. As far back as I can remember, we’d get a monthly newspaper titled Bluff City Post in our yard. When I’d open it, I got to see stories of people who I could identify with, people who looked like me. This publication is still in circulation today.
I reached out to Mr. William Terrell for the back story, he was kind and much obliged in our interest. The following words are those of Mr. Terrell himself. I am honored to share these words with you, the reader. I hope you find the strength and courage of these men as interesting as I did. Despite fear and discrimination three men set out to create a voice in the Black community, during a time when it was unheard of in Natchez.
The story of the Bluff Post began in 1976 when Theodore C Johnson, Alex Green, and William H Terrell, were trying to solicit enough publicity to generate interest in the NAACP Annual Banquet. Because it was so difficult to get publicity through local media, Mr. Johnson, a previous newspaper owner, brought up the idea that the African American Community needed its own newspaper. Determined and willing to try any venue, in the summer of 1978, the three men created a company name and business plan. The name Bluff City and Post was chosen because that name has been associated with newspapers since the founding of the nation.
Next, the men started seeking a bank that would lend them the start-up money. Of course, in 1978, it was not easy to borrow money for a business, especially a newspaper. Fortunately, the leading officer was friends with Mr. Green and Mr. Johnson, and let them have the money as a personal note (on their signatures). However, the company’s name could not be on the loan papers.
The first eight years the Bluff City Post’s office was in the King David Grand Lodge Building at 325 Pine Street (now MLK St.). In February of 1988, the Bluff City Post moved to 719 Franklin Street where it has been located for the last thirty-six years. During this time, the newspaper went from using typewriter scripts that were pasted onto a newspaper grid sheet, to a compugraphic machine, the forerunner of the computer and finally to a computer, even with the use of our first computer, we still had to cut and paste the info onto a grid sheet. In 2003, we upgraded our computer system with the necessary newspaper software, which brought Bluff City Post into the modern printing age.
The newspaper has had many triumphs and many ups and downs. Unfortunately, in 1982, Mr. Alex Green was killed in a bus accident. There were other times when the paper suffered severely due to economic downturns. In 1983, Diamond International, where William worked, closed with only a seven-day notice. Through all the hardships, Johnson and Terrell were determined not to abandon their dream. They struggled and persisted and continued to grow the newspaper business.
Mr. Johnson came to work every day until six weeks before his death. On his deathbed at the Natchez Regional Medical Hospital, Mr. Johnson called Wiliam Terrell and turned his part of the business over to him and once that was done, within the hour he died.
In 1991, William Terrell, along with his wife Flora, became publisher and owner of the newspaper. They continued to operate the Bluff City Post with the help of a dedicated staff, several contributors, family members and loyal supports. Today, William continues to cover state, local and national events. He can be seen all over the Miss-Lou area with a camera and a notepad.
