Delilah Beasley: A Trailblazer in Massage Therapy and Journalism

Introduction

The Landscape of Massage Therapy in Beasley’s Time

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, massage therapy was considered an essential part of medical treatment, especially in hospitals. Physicians prescribed massage for pain relief, circulation improvement, and post-surgical recovery. Massage was commonly performed by trained practitioners, many of whom were women, and it was one of the few healthcare professions accessible to African Americans.

Despite the opportunities the field provided, massage therapy was not yet a formally regulated profession. Training varied widely, with some practitioners learning through apprenticeships, while others attended specialized schools. Many hospitals employed massage therapists, and some doctors referred patients to them for therapeutic treatments. It was in this context that Delilah Beasley entered the profession, using her skills to provide care while simultaneously pursuing her passions in writing and history.

Beasley’s Early Life and Entry into Massage Therapy

Born in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Delilah Beasley grew up in a post-Civil War society that offered few professional opportunities for African Americans, particularly women. Despite these challenges, Beasley was ambitious and determined.

Her first known job was in massage therapy, working in hospitals and private homes. This career choice was not unusual for African American women at the time. Many Black women found work in healthcare-related fields, including nursing and midwifery, as these roles were considered an extension of traditional caregiving responsibilities. However, Beasley’s career in massage therapy went beyond simply earning a living—she became a skilled practitioner at a time when medical massage was still gaining legitimacy in the healthcare field.

“Determined to improve her position, Beasley studied hydrotherapy, medical gymnastics, and diagnosis, and became a massage therapist. Over the years, she worked in Chicago, New York, and Michigan, in both sanitariums and resorts, where, for a time, her specialty was giving head massages to pregnant women. She eventually settled in Berkeley in 1910 to work as a nurse for a former patient. KQED https://www.kqed.org/pop/102326/rebel-girls-from-bay-area-history-delilah-l-beasley-pioneering-journalist

The Role of African American Women in Massage Therapy

Beasley’s work as a massage therapist placed her among a growing number of African American women who used massage as a pathway to professional and financial independence. At a time when Black women faced discrimination in nearly every industry, massage therapy offered a unique opportunity. It was a profession where skill, reputation, and client trust mattered more than formal credentials, allowing Black practitioners to establish themselves in the healthcare field despite widespread racial barriers.

Beasley’s work in hospitals suggests that she was well-trained and recognized for her abilities. Hospital-based massage therapists often worked alongside doctors and nurses, providing treatments to post-surgical patients, individuals with chronic pain, and those recovering from injuries. Private home massage therapy, another area in which Beasley worked, required an even higher level of trust, as clients invited practitioners into their personal spaces. The fact that Beasley was able to sustain herself through this career indicates that she built a strong professional reputation.

"Every life casts its shadow, my life plus others make a power to move the world. I, therefore, pledge my life to the living world of brotherhood and mutual understanding between the races."
- Delilah Beasley Oakland Wiki https://localwiki.org/oakland/Delilah_Beasley

Massage Therapy as a Stepping Stone for Beasley’s Journalism Career

While Beasley is celebrated for her contributions to Black history and journalism, her early career as a massage therapist likely played a significant role in shaping her perspective and providing the financial stability necessary for her later pursuits. Massage therapy allowed her to:

1. Achieve Economic Independence – At a time when few professional fields were open to Black women, Beasley’s work in massage therapy gave her a reliable income, allowing her the freedom to pursue her passion for writing. Unlike many other professions, massage therapy provided flexibility, enabling her to spend time researching and documenting Black history.
2. Gain Access to Influential Circles – Working in hospitals and private homes likely brought Beasley into contact with doctors, nurses, and community leaders who valued her skills. These connections may have opened doors for her later work as a journalist. Additionally, massage therapy often involved building strong relationships with clients, giving her access to personal stories and historical narratives that may have fueled her passion for documenting Black achievements.
3. Develop an Understanding of Community and Care – Beasley’s work as a massage therapist immersed her in the realities of health disparities and the need for compassionate, community-based care. This experience likely influenced her later writing, which often highlighted the resilience and contributions of African Americans in the face of systemic racism.

The Overlooked Contributions of Beasley to Massage Therapy

Although Beasley did not explicitly write about her work as a massage therapist, her career in the field places her among the early African American practitioners who helped legitimize massage therapy as a respected healthcare profession. At a time when massage was still developing as a recognized field, Beasley and others like her demonstrated its importance in medical treatment, pain management, and overall well-being.

Beasley’s Later Achievements and Legacy

While Beasley eventually transitioned into journalism full-time, her career in massage therapy remained an essential part of her journey. In 1910, she moved to Oakland, California, where she began writing for the Oakland Tribune, becoming the first Black woman to be published in a major daily newspaper. She wrote a weekly column titled Activities Among Negroes, documenting the achievements and contributions of Black Californians.

In 1919, she published The Negro Trailblazers of California, (archive.org) an unprecedented historical record of Black pioneers, activists, business owners, and leaders in the state. This book remains a foundational text in African American history and is still cited by scholars today. I did find an interesting paragraph in the text:

Who was Lula Russel? You can read the complete book on archive.org.

Conclusion: Honoring Beasley’s Legacy in Massage Therapy

Delilah Beasley is often remembered for her contributions to journalism and historical research, but her work as a massage therapist deserves recognition as well. She was part of a pioneering group of African American women who helped shape the profession, using their skills to provide healing, comfort, and care in a segregated society.

Her story serves as an important reminder that massage therapy has a long and complex history, deeply intertwined with issues of race, gender, and healthcare access. Beasley’s ability to build a career in massage therapy despite racial and gender barriers speaks to her resilience, intelligence, and determination.

As we celebrate Beasley’s legacy, it is important to recognize her not only as a journalist and historian but also as a healthcare professional who contributed to the early development of massage therapy as a respected field. Her journey demonstrates the power of touch—not just in healing bodies, but in opening doors to new opportunities, breaking barriers, and making history.

Resources

Celebrating Delilah Beasley, A Pioneer in Massage Therapy 02/17/2022 ABMP Blog

The Life of Delilah Beasley, A Conversation with Dorothy Lazard. City of Oakland. Youtube

The Pioneering Black Historian Who Was Almost Erased From History NY Times 2020

Trailblazer: Delilah Beasley Autry Museum of the American West Youtube Panel Discussion.

Besides the Edge of the World: Artist Spotlight Youtube

Trailblazer : Delilah Beasley’s California Book by Dana Johnson and Ana Cecilia Alvarez (Just purchased by SOMA)

Dana Johnson and Delilah Beasley The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens Oct. 23, 2019 by Carribean Fragoza

“We were being erased” The woman who saved California’s Black history.  East Bay Yesterday Podcast Episode 60

Activities Among Negroes (Oakland Wiki) was a regular column, authored by Delilah L. Beasley in the Oakland Tribune

Rebel Girls From Bay Area History

The Oakland Tribune Journalist Who Highlighted Black Excellence

Discussion:

In “Trailblazer,” author Dana Johnson asks: “What on earth would possess a woman of no means, no academic or historical training, to obsessively collect the histories of black people? To insist on their rightful place in our country’s endless, ongoing narrative?”

I wonder:

• What on earth would possess a black woman in those times to become a massage therapist?
• What do you think a typical day looked like for Delilah Beasley when she was working as a massage therapist? How might her experiences have been different when working in a hospital versus visiting private homes?
• Beasley was financially independent at a time when many Black women had few career options. How do you think this independence shaped her confidence, choices, and ability to later become a journalist and historian?
• Since formal massage therapy schools were rare at the time, how do you think Beasley learned her massage skills? Do you think she faced challenges gaining credibility in the medical community?
• Beasley was deeply involved in documenting Black history while also working as a massage therapist. How do you think she balanced the physical demands of massage therapy with the intellectual and emotional demands of researching and writing history?
• If you could ask Delilah Beasley one question about her life and career, what would it be? Why do you think her story has been largely forgotten compared to other historical figures?

Looking for this book: Delilah Leontium Beasley: Oakland’s Crusading Journalist Paperback – January 1, 1990

Call to Action

Beasley’s legacy is a call for today’s massage therapists to advocate for their profession, ensuring that it remains a respected and well-regulated field. It also serves as an inspiration to continue highlighting the contributions of African American massage therapists, both past and present. You can help preserve this amazing history by becoming a Founder of the Society of Massage Archives.