A Nervous Man Shouldn't Be Here in the First Place: The Life of Bill Baggs

"This is not a simple life, my friend, and there are no simple answers."

The late editor of the late Miami News, Bill Baggs, stamped these words on plain white postcards and sent them to readers who sent him hate mail—a frequent occurrence, as Baggs, a white editor of a prominent southern newspaper, championed unpopular ideas in his front-page columns, such as protecting the environment, desegregating public schools, and peace in Vietnam.

Under his leadership, the Miami News earned three Puli...