Delilah Beasley: Wellness Pro-Turned-Journalist
Delilah Beasley was a pioneering journalist who chronicled the Black experience in California and became the first Black woman columnist for a major newspaper at the Oakland Tribune. She is also considered the first recorded Black massage therapist.
Born after the Civil War, Beasley left school to support herself after her parents' death. She pursued a career in massage and bodywork, a forward-thinking choice. She studied hydrotherapy, nursing, and therapeutic bodywork, and practiced in various settings from spas to medical facilities.
Settling in Berkeley, CA, Beasley immersed herself in history and civic activities. In 1919, she published "The Negro Trail Blazers of California," documenting Black pioneers. In 1923, the Oakland Tribune hired her to write “Activities Among Negroes,” celebrating Black achievements and raising awareness of racial barriers.
Beasley was active in organizations like the NAACP and the League of Women Voters. She continued to write and fight for equality until her death in 1934.
