Nick Chiles, 195?–1929

Nick Chiles, 195?–1929

Editor, Civil-Rights Activist

Nick Chiles, born in South Carolina, was an entrepreneur, activist, politician, and journalist who moved Topeka, Kansas, sometime in the 1880s, until his death in 1929. While in Topeka, Chiles launched the Topeka Plaindealer, the most prominent Western black newspaper in the early 20th century. He used his newspaper not only as a platform to direct news to the African American community, but also to educate, inform, and appeal to white Christians to become anti-racist:

“the Protestant church in America, except in a few rare individual instances, seems to be deaf to our appeals and seems inclined to remain silent if not actually acquiescent in the terrible outrages upon us.”

Chiles would regularly correspond with powerful Christian leaders (including the pope) and political figures (including the president, senators and governors) and appeal to their Christian-faith in order to provoke repentance and action. Not only was Chiles interested in advancing the rights and equality for African American citizens, but he was also concerned about the fate of the white Christian church as so many individuals were unrepentant for their belief in white supremacy.

Though Chiles fought hard to see policy and legislation change, he believed that racism was, at its core, a spiritual problem that would not be solved until the consciences of white Christians could be awakened.

“It is your Christian duty to help undo the great injustice that has been perpetrated upon them, if this is accomplished you will merit the prayers of thousands, for there are many praying Christians of both races who are striving to bring about this change."