User:Fannie Bates/sandbox/Dunjee, Roscoe

Dunjee, Roscoe Roscoe Dunjee was a highly respected newspaper editor and civil rights leader who lived most of his life in Oklahoma. He was editor of the Black Dispatch newspaper from approximately 1915 until 1955, when he turned the newspaper over to trusted allies due to health problems. His older sister, Drusilla Dunjee Houston was co-editor of the Black Dispatch during the early years. She was forced to move to another state due to health problems in the 1930's.

Roscoe Dunjee served on the National Board of the NAACP for many years. He developed a reputation for being brilliant and mentally tough.

The Dunjee family moved to Oklahoma from Pennsylvania when Roscoe was approximately nine years of age. They had one of the most complete book collections of any family in the state.

The family was closely associated with W.E.B. DuBois, and Roscoe shared his belief that Black people should aspire to being full citizens of the United States, and should not settle for second-class citizen. Roscoe conducted himself in a manner consistent with this belief. He was often seen lobbying for the rights of Black people in the halls of the Oklahoma state legislature and a portrait of him hangs there to this day.

Roscoe was the son of John Dunjee. John was born a slave, ran away and changed his name to Dunjee. John made up this name because he wanted a unique name. Thus, the name Dunjee is very rare.

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