Wall Art
Pillows
Drinkware
38. "We demand complete control of our social institutions without interference by any alien race or races."
THE NEGRO WORLD NEWSPAPER
JULY 31, 1926
FREEDOM'S JOURNAL
Established in 1827, the same
year that slavery was abolished in New York, The Freedom's Journal, founded by John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish, was the first African American-owned and operated newspaper in the U.S..
L'UNION
The American South's first Black
daily newspaper and abolitionist
journal promoted full citizenship rights for people of African
descent. It was founded in 1862
by prominent leaders in the Louisiana civil rights movement,
Dr. Louis Charles Roudanez,
Jean Baptiste Roudanez and
Paul Trévigne.
THE CHICAGO DEFENDER
Founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott, this leading Black news-paper championed civil rights
and encouraged the Great Migration. Through bold journa-lism and powerful editorials,
it challenged segregation, supported Black political
empowerment, and amplified African American voices through-out the 20th century. At its
height, it reached hundreds
of thousands of readers nation-wide—becoming not just a newspaper, but a movement.
L'ÉTUDIANT NOIR
Founded by Léon Damas,
Aimé Césaire, and Léopold
Sédar Senghor in Paris in 1935, L’Étudiant Noir was a platform
for Négritude, a Pan-Africanist literary and cultural movement.
This diasporic, anti-colonialist
literary and ideological move-
ment attracted Francophone writers of African descent.
CALIFORNIA EAGLE
A newspaper for Black residents
of Southern California was the brainchild of John James Neimore, founded in 1879. Upon his death in 1912, the newspaper was passed
to Charlotta Spears Bass, who became the first African American woman owner and newspaper publisher. Under her stewardship,
the paper became a vital voice for civil rights and social justice.
THE TULSA STAR
Published from 1913 to 1961,
The Tulsa Star, a Black-owned newspaper in Tulsa, Oklahoma, played a key role in raising
social consciousness within
the Black community. It covered
daily life events such as weddings
and funerals and informed Black Americans about their legal rights, court rulings, and legislation impacting their community.
THE MEMPHIS FREE SPEECH
Founded in 1881 by Rev. Taylor Nightingale, the Memphis Free Speech was a newspaper that advocated for Black rights and
served as a platform for Ida B.
Wells to document lynching in
the South. Wells, an investigative journalist, educator, and early
leader in the civil rights
movement, co-edited and
co-owned the paper.
THE WOMAN'S ERA
Launched in 1890, The Woman’s
Era became the first national newspaper in the United States produced and funded by Black
women and played a key role in establishing the Natl. Assoc. of Colored Women. The newspaper
grew out of the Woman’s Era Club,
an advocacy group for Boston-
area Black women founded by Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin and
her daughter Florida Ruffin Ridley.
THE PITTSBURGH COURIER
Est. in 1907 by Edwin N.
Harleston, a H. J. Heinz food-packing plant guard, the paper quickly gained readership for
its coverage of issues important
to the Black community. The newspaper gained national prominence after attorney Robert Lee Vann took over as editor and publisher in 1910. By the 1930s, it was one of the top-selling Black newspapers in the country. It was known for its vigorous advocacy
for racial equality and its role in
the Harlem Renaissance and the broader civil rights movement.
THE NORTH STAR
Founded by Frederick Douglass
in 1847, the newspaper was a prominent abolitionist publication that advocated for the end of slavery and promoted civil rights
for African Americans. Douglass,
an escaped slave and leading abolitionist, used the paper to
share his views on slavery, racism,
and social justice. The paper was known for its powerful editorials
and was influential in shaping
public opinion on slavery and
racial equality.
THE AFRO AMERICAN
The Afro-American newspaper,
often referred to as The Afro,
was founded in Baltimore in
1892 and sold to former slave
John H. Murphy Sr. in 1897. It remains in publication today
and is the oldest family-owned African American newspaper in
the United States. As one of the most influential Black newspapers
in the country, The Afro continues to play a significant role in advocating for racial justice
and is a critical voice in the
Black community.
THE NEGRO WORLD
Founded by Marcus Garvey and
the Universal Negro Improvement Assoc. (UNIA) in New York City in 1918, the newspaper served as a major platform for Garvey's Pan-Africanist ideas, advocating for racial pride, unity, and economic self-sufficiency among Black
people globally. At its peak, the paper had a weekly distribution
of over 500,000 copies and was printed in several languages.
THE GUARDIAN
The Guardian, founded by civil rights activist William Monroe Trotter in 1901, was a key African American newspaper. It served
as Trotter’s platform for opposing segregation and promoting racial justice. Known for its strong editorials and support for social causes, the newspaper became
a leading voice in the early 20th-century civil rights movement.
Related Sources
Documentary
The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords is the first documentary to provide an in-depth examination of the history and contributions of African American newspapers. Since the early 1800’s Black newspapers have existed in almost every major city in the U.S. This documentary is A Half Nelson Production, and is presented by The Chicago Production Center at WTTW.
Video Link
Heru Asar: (2017, Feburary 12). The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords [video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo8Pvr7TyP4
Museums & Libraries
The National Museum of African-American History and Culture
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Library of Congress African American Newspaper Holdings and Digital Access
Blogs & Newspapers
Featured Content
HIST. BLACK NEWSPAPERS
More than 20 Black newspapers were published in the U.S. before the Civil War and between the end of the Civil War and the turn of the century, over 500 Black newspapers began publication.
FEATURED NEWSPAPERS
FEATURED NEWSPAPERS
HISTORIC BLACK NEWSPAPERS
More than 20 Black newspapers were published in the U.S. before the Civil War and between the end of the Civil War and the turn of the century, over 500 Black newspapers began publication.
FEATURED NEWSPAPERS
FEATURED NEWSPAPERS
FREEDOM'S JOURNAL
Established in 1827, the same year that slavery
was abolished in New York, The Freedom's Journal, founded by John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish,
was the 1st African American-owned and operated newspaper in the U.S. .
L'UNION
The American South's 1st Black daily newspaper
and abolitionist journal promoted full citizenship rights for people of African descent. It was founded
in 1862 by prominent leaders in the Louisiana civil rights movement, Dr. Louis Charles Roudanez, Jean Baptiste Roudanez and Paul Trévigne.
THE CHICAGO DEFENDER
Founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott, this
leading Black newspaper championed civil rights
and encouraged the Great Migration. Through
bold journalism and powerful editorials, it chal-
lenged segregation, supported Black political empowerment, and amplified African American
voices throughout the 20th century. At its height,
it reached hundreds of thousands of readers
nationwide—becoming not just a newspaper,
but a movement.
L'ÉTUDIANT NOIR
Founded by Léon Damas, Aimé Césaire, and Léopold Senghor in Paris in 1935, L’Étudiant Noir
(The Black Student) was a platform for Négritude, a Pan-Africanist literary and cultural movement. This diasporic, anti-colonialist literary and ideological movement attracted many Francophone writers of African descent.
CALIFORNIA EAGLE
A newspaper for Black residents of Southern California was the brainchild of John Neimore, founded in 1879. Upon his death in 1912, the newspaper was passed to Charlotta S. Bass,
who became the first African American woman
owner and newspaper publisher. Under her stewardship, the paper became a vital voice
for civil rights and social justice.
THE TULSA STAR
Published from 1913 to 1961, The Tulsa Star,
a Black-owned newspaper in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
played a key role in raising social conscious-
ness within the Black community. It covered
daily life events such as weddings and funerals
and informed Black Americans about their legal rights, court rulings, and legislation impacting
their community.
THE MEMPHIS FREE SPEECH
Founded in 1881 by Reverend Taylor Nightingale,
the Memphis Free Speech was a newspaper that advocated for Black rights and served as a platform for Ida B. Wells to document lynching in the South. Wells, an investigative journalist, educator, and early leader in the civil rights movement, co-edited and
co-owned the paper.
THE WOMAN'S ERA
Launched in 1890, The Woman’s Era became
the 1st national newspaper in the United States produced and funded by Black women and played
a key role in establishing the Natl. Assoc. of
Colored Women. The newspaper grew out of the Woman’s Era Club, an advocacy group for Boston-area Black women founded by Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin and her daughter Florida Ruffin Ridley.
THE PITTSBURGH COURIER
Established in 1907 by Edwin N. Harleston,
a H. J. Heinz food-packing plant guard, the paper quickly gained readership for its coverage of issues important to the Black community. The newspaper gained national prominence after attorney Robert Lee Vann took over as editor and publisher in 1910.
By the 1930s, it was one of the top-selling Black newspapers in the country. It was known for its vigorous advocacy for racial equality and its role
in the Harlem Renaissance and the broader civil rights movement.
THE NORTH STAR
Founded by Frederick Douglass in 1847, the news-paper was a prominent abolitionist publication that advocated for the end of slavery and promoted civil rights for African Americans. Douglass, an escaped slave and leading abolitionist, used the paper to share his views on slavery, racism, and social justice.
The paper was known for its powerful editorials and was influential in shaping public opinion on slavery and racial equality.
THE AFRO AMERICAN
The Afro-American newspaper was founded in Baltimore in 1892 and sold to former slave John H. Murphy Sr. in 1897. It remains in publication today and is the oldest family-owned African American newspaper in the U.S.. As one of the most influential Black newspapers in the country, The Afro continues to play a significant role in advocating for racial justice and is still a critical voice in the African
American community.
THE NEGRO WORLD
Founded by Marcus Garvey and the Universal
Negro Improvement Assoc. (UNIA) in New York City in 1918, the newspaper served as a major platform for Garvey's Pan-Africanist ideas, advocating for racial pride, unity, and economic self-sufficiency among Black people globally. At its peak, the paper had a weekly distribution of over 500,000 copies and was printed in several languages.
THE GUARDIAN
The Guardian, founded by civil rights
activist William M. Trotter in 1901, was
a key African American newspaper. It
served as Trotter’s platform for opposing segregation and promoting racial justice.
Known for its strong editorials and support
for social causes, the newspaper became
a leading voice in the early 20th-century
civil rights movement.
Add a Title
HIST. BLACK NEWSPAPERS
More than 20 Black newspapers were published in the U.S, before the Civil War and between the end of the Civil War and the turn of the century, over 500 Black newspapers began publication.
FEATURED NEWSPAPERS
FEATURED NEWSPAPERS
FREEDOM'S JOURNAL
Established in 1827, the same year that
slavery was abolished in New York, The Freedom's Journal, founded by John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish, was the
1st African American-owned and opera-
ted newspaper in the U.S. .
L'UNION
The American South's 1st Black daily newspaper and abolitionist journal pro-
moted full citizenship rights for people
of African descent. It was founded in 1862
by prominent leaders in the Louisiana
civil rights movement, Dr. Louis Charles Roudanez, Jean Baptiste Roudanez and
Paul Trévigne.
THE CHICAGO DEFENDER
Founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott,
this leading Black newspaper championed
civil rights and encouraged the Great Migration. Through bold journalism and powerful editorials, it challenged segre-
gation, supported Black political empower-ment, and ampliified African American
voices throughout the 20th century. At its height, it reached hundreds of thousands
of readers nationwide—becoming not just
a newspaper, but a movement.
L'ÉTUDIANT NOIR
Founded by Léon Damas, Aimé Césaire,
and Léopold Senghor in Paris in 1935, L’Étudiant Noir (The Black Student) was
a platform for Négritude, a Pan-Africanist literary and cultural movement. This
diasporic, anti-colonialist literary and ideological movement attracted many Francophone writers of African descent.
CALIFORNIA EAGLE
A newspaper for Black residents
of Southern California was the brain-
child of John Neimore, founded in
1879. Upon his death in 1912, the
newspaper was passed to Charlotta
S. Bass, who became the first African
American woman owner and newspa-
per publisher. Under her stewardship,
the paper became a vital voice for
civil rights and social justice.
THE TULSA STAR
Published from 1913 to 1961, The Tulsa
Star, a Black-owned newspaper in Tulsa, Oklahoma, played a key role in raising
social consciousness within the Black community. It covered daily life events
such as weddings and funerals and
informed Black Americans about their
legal rights, court rulings, and legisla-
tion impacting their community.
THE MEMPHIS FREE SPEECH
Founded in 1881 by Reverend Taylor Nightingale, the Memphis Free Speech
was a newspaper that advocated for
Black rights and served as a platform
for Ida B. Wells to document lynching
in the South. Wells, an investigative
journalist, educator, and early leader
in the civil rights movement, co-edited
and co-owned the paper.
THE WOMAN'S ERA
Launched in 1890, The Woman’s Era
became the 1st national newspaper in
the United States produced and funded
by Black women and played a key role in establishing the Natl. Assoc. of Colored
Women. The newspaper grew out of the Woman’s Era Club, an advocacy group
for Boston-area Black women founded
by Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin and her
daughter Florida Ruffin Ridley.
THE PITTSBURGH COURIER
Established in 1907 by Edwin N.
Harleston, a H. J. Heinz food-packing plant guard, the paper quickly gained readership for its co-verage of issues important to the Black community. The newspaper gained national prominence
after attorney Robert Lee Vann took over
as editor and publisher in 1910. By the 1930s, it was one of the top-selling Black newspapers in the country. It was known
for its vigorous advocacy for racial equa-
lity and its role in the Harlem Renaissance
and the broader civil rights movement.
THE NORTH STAR
Founded by Frederick Douglass in 1847,
the newspaper was a prominent aboli-
tionist publication that advocated for
the end of slavery and promoted civil
rights for African Americans. Douglass,
an escaped slave and leading abolitionist, used the paper to share his views on
slavery, racism, and social justice. The
paper was known for its powerful editor-
ials and was influential in shaping public opinion on slavery and racial equality.
THE AFRO AMERICAN
The Afro-American newspaper was
founded in Baltimore in 1892 and sold
to former slave John H. Murphy Sr. in
1897. It remains in publication today
and is the oldest family-owned African American newspaper in the U.S.. As
one of the most influential Black news-papers in the country, The Afro continues to play a significant role in advocating
for racial justice and is still a critical
voice in the African American community.
THE NEGRO WORLD
Founded by Marcus Garvey and the
Universal Negro Improvement Assoc.
in New York City in 1918, the newspaper served as a major platform for Garvey's
Pan-Africanist ideas, advocating for racial pride, unity, and economic self-sufficiency among Black people globally. At its peak,
the paper had a weekly distribution of
over 500,000 copies and was printed in several languages.
THE GUARDIAN
The Guardian, founded by civil rights
activist William M. Trotter in 1901, was
a key African American newspaper. It
served as Trotter’s platform for opposing segregation and promoting racial justice.
Known for its strong editorials and support
for social causes, the newspaper became
a leading voice in the early 20th-century
civil rights movement.
