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List of African American newspapers in Alabama facts for kids

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Wide-Awake 1900-01-24
Front page of the Birmingham Wide-Awake from January 1900.

This is a list of African American newspapers that have been published in Alabama. It includes both current and historical newspapers.

The first such newspaper in Alabama was The Nationalist, published in Mobile from 1865 to 1869. Many more followed it, with some 100 newspapers established in the 1890s alone as the reading population grew and became more urbanized.

Alabama's first state organization of African American newspapers was the Alabama Colored Press Association, which was founded by the editors of nine papers in 1887. However, the association ceased to function after two years, due to many of its key members having been driven out of the state by racist violence. As the growth of the African American press continued unabated, the Afro-American Press Association of Alabama was established in 1894.

Newspapers

City Title Beginning End Frequency Call numbers Remarks
Aldrich
  • The Alabama Time-Piece
  • The Alabama Timepiece
 1895 1902? Weekly
  • Published by Aldrich Publishing Company.
  • Edited by B.L. Lester.
Anniston / Birmingham (1909–1911) The Baptist Leader 1880s 1900s Weekly
  • Edited by Jesse C. Duke.
Anniston The Union Leader 1901 1903? Weekly
Bay Minette American Banner 1895? ? Weekly, bimonthly in 1899
  • Published by Boykin, S.J.
  • Attested through at least 1902.
Belmont News 1902 1903 Weekly
Bethel The Southern Star 1890s 1900s Weekly
Birmingham / Montgomery (1877–1882) Advance 1876 1882 Weekly
  • First Democratic African American newspaper in Alabama.
  • Edited by James A. Scott.
Birmingham The Afro-American Labor Sentinel 1896 ? Twice monthly
  • Published by The Afro-American Labor and Protective Association.
Birmingham The Birmingham American 1910s 1900s Weekly
Birmingham
  • Birmingham Blade
  • The Birmingham Blade
 1907 1909 Weekly
  • Published and edited by L.H. Harrison.
Birmingham Broad Axe 1891 1895
  • Edited by T.H. Jordan.
Birmingham By Any Means Necessary: (BAMN) 1985? ? Irregular
  • Published by New Afrikan People’s Organization. Edited by Thandisizwe Chimurenga.
  • Attested through at least 1993.
Birmingham
  • Christian Era
  • Birmingham Era
 1886 1887
  • Edited by T.W. Coffee.
Birmingham / Demopolis The Christian Hope 1894? ? Weekly
  • Edited by L.S. Steinbeck.
  • Attested through at least 1902.
Birmingham Birmingham Free Speech 1901 ? Weekly
  • Published by Francis P. McAlpin.
Birmingham Hot Shots 1896 1900s Irregular
Birmingham
  • Birmingham Mirror
  • The Birmingham Mirror
 1939? ? Weekly
  • Published by J. Howard Williamson.
  • Attested through at least 1974.
Birmingham
  • Negro American
  • The Negro American
  • American Citizen (1888–)
 1886 1891? Weekly
  • Edited by R.C.O. Benjamin from 1886 to 1887, when threats of white violence forced him to leave. Subsequent editors included J.W. White, Albert Boyd, and A.N. Jackson.
  • "The most outspoken black paper in Birmingham".
Birmingham The New Era Banner 1918 or 1919 ? Weekly
Birmingham The Pleiades 1888 ? Weekly
Birmingham The Birmingham Reporter 1900? ? Weekly
  • Published by the Colored Masonic Temple.
  • Attested through at least 1928.
  • Edited by Oscar W. Adams Sr. from 1907 to 1928.
Birmingham
  • The Birmingham Reporter
  • Birmingham Eagle Reporter
 1915? 1930s Weekly
  • "Official organ of the Masons, Eastern Stars, and Knights of Pythias of Alabama and Knights and Ladies of Honor of the World."
Birmingham The Times Plain Dealer 1910s 1900s Weekly
  • Attested through at least 1921.
Birmingham The Birmingham Times 1964 current Weekly
  • LCCN sn85044582
  • ISSN 1534-2794 1534-2794
  • Official site: https://www.birminghamtimes.com/
Birmingham The Birmingham Truth 1902 1900s Weekly
  • Attested through at least 1927.
  • Founded and until 1910 edited by Carrie A. Tuggle.
Birmingham The Truth 1903 1900s Weekly
  • Attested through at least 1905.
  • Published by Tuggle Printing Company.
Birmingham
  • The Voice of the People
  • Weekly Voice (1916–1917)
 1913? 1920s Weekly
  • Published by E.W. Howell.
Birmingham The Alabama Voice 1946 ? Bimonthly newspaper
  • Published by H.D. Coke.
Birmingham Weekly Pilot 1883 ? Weekly
  • Edited by J.H. Thomason. Published by Pilot Publishing Company.
Birmingham The Weekly Review 1934? ? Weekly
  • Published and edited by Robert Durr.
Birmingham
  • Wide Awake Bulletin (1880s–1890s)
  • Wide-Awake (1890s–)
  • Birmingham Wide-Awake (1906–)
 1887 or 1889? 1890s Weekly
  • Wide-Awake Bulletin:
  • Wide-Awake:
    • LCCN sn83025484, 2013254374
  • Birmingham Wide-Awake:
Birmingham
  • The Workmen's Chronicle
  • The Workmens Chronicle
 1917 ? Weekly
  • "Issued under the auspices of the Afro-American Sociological Congress."
Birmingham Birmingham World 1930 1996 Weekly, twice weekly from 1940 to 1969
  • Founded by W.A. Scott. Published by Joe N. Dickson & Associates.
Decatur The Guardian 1910 1900s Monthly newspaper
  • Attested through at least 1914.
Decatur
  • Speakin' Out Weekly News
  • Speakin’ Out News
 1980 current Weekly
  • LCCN sn88050097, sn90099002
  • Official site: https://www.speakinoutweeklynews.com/#!
  • Published by William Smothers.
Dothan Southern Star 1916 ? Weekly
  • Published by M.S. Brown. Edited by M.J. Adams from 1918 to 1919.
Dothan
  • The Voice Of The Negro
  • Voice of the Negro
 1912? ? Weekly
  • Attested through at least 1915.
Epes The Sumter Enterprise 1907 ? Weekly
  • Published and edited by A.G. Idrell.
Eufaula Vindicator 1889 ?
  • Edited by T.W. Coffee.
Eutaw Greene County Democrat ? current Weekly
  • LCCN sn85044807
  • ISSN 0889-518X 0889-518X
  • Official site: https://greenecodemocrat.com/
Eutaw Western Guide 1905 1909 Weekly
Fayette Watchman 1902 1903 Weekly
Florence The Shoals News Leader 1979? ? Weekly
  • Published by Reginald Liner.
Florence The Watcher 1888 1800s Weekly
  • Suspended publication in 1889.
Georgiana The Temple Star 1916? ? Twice monthly
Girard Eastern Sunlight 1901 1914 Weekly
Grove Hill Grove Hill Herald 1800s 1850s Weekly
  • LCCN sn85044896
  • ISSN 2574-7428 2574-7428
Hayneville / Montgomery The Republican Sentinel and Hayneville Times 1878 1878 Weekly
Huntsville Huntsville Gazette 1879 1894 Weekly
  • LCCN 760643891, sn84020151, sn90023104
  • ISSN 2575-1271 2575-1271
  • Edited by Charles Hendley, Jr.
  • "[T]he most financially successful and enduring black newspaper in Alabama before 1900."
Huntsville The Herald 1878 1884 Weekly
  • Edited by W.H. Councill.
Huntsville The Huntsville Journal 1895 1897 Weekly
Huntsville The Journal 1897 1912 Weekly
  • Edited by H.C. Binford from 1897 to 1911, and then by J.A. Binford.
Huntsville The Huntsville Mirror 1935? ? Weekly
  • Edited by L.C. Jamar.
Huntsville The Huntsville Star 1900 ? Weekly
  • LCCN 2012254019, sn83025483
  • Edited by Richard C. Hancock.
Huntsville The Weekly News 1968 1980s Weekly or bimonthly
Huntsville The Weekly News 1900s 1900s Weekly
  • Attested from at least 1931.
Kempsville
  • The Eagle
  • The Cagie
 1800s 1910s Twice monthly
  • LCCN sn87050157, sn87050156
Lovan The Eagle 1880s 1900s Twice monthly
Marion The Journal Reporter 1870s ? Weekly
  • Attested through at least 1881.
Mobile Ace 1975 ? Weekly
  • Edited by William Shirley and Arthur Johnson Jr.
  • Attested through at least 1979.
Mobile
  • Mobile Beacon
  • The Mobile Beacon & Alabama Citizen
  • The Mobile Beacon and Alabama Citizen
 1943 current Weekly
  • LCCN 760643870, 84020221, 88050211, sn84020221, sn88050212
  • Published by Lancie M. Thomas.
  • Conflicting reports of closure in 2019.
Mobile Gazette 1883 1884 Twice weekly, then weekly (1882–1884)
Mobile Herald 1871 1872
  • "[E]stablished in August 1871 to defend the Turner-Spencer faction of the party from attacks by the Mobile Republican."
Mobile Methodist Vindicator 1888 1889
  • Edited by T.W. Coffee.
Mobile The Nationalist 1865 1869 Triweekly
  • First African American newspaper in Alabama.
  • Owned and managed by African Americans. Edited in 1865 by John Silsby, and from 1866 to 1869 by Albert Griffin, "two white carpetbaggers".
Mobile The New Times 1981 current Weekly
  • LCCN sn85044906
  • ISSN 0885-1662 0885-1662
Mobile The Press Forum Sun 1900s 1900s Weekly
Mobile The Press-Forum Weekly 1929 1941 Weekly
Mobile The Mobile Republican 1870 1872? Weekly; daily in 1870
  • LCCN 760643865, sn87062006
  • Initially a daily, purchased and turned into a weekly by Philip Joseph later in 1870. James Shaw became editor and publisher in 1871.
  • "[P]ossibly the first in the state to be edited by an Afro-American."
Mobile The Southern Watchman 1899 1904 Weekly
  • Edited by Anderson N. McEwen.
Mobile
  • The Mobile Watchman
  • Watchman
 1873 1874 Weekly
  • LCCN sn88050159, sn88050160
Mobile The Mobile Weekly Advocate 1911 ? Weekly
  • Attested through at least 1958.
Mobile The Mobile Weekly Press 1896? 1929 Weekly
  • Edited by Andrew N. Johnson from 1894 to 1907.
Montgomery The Advance 1877? 1880s Weekly
  • Published by James A. Scott.
Montgomery The Alabama Enterprise 1885? ? Weekly
  • Attested from 1886.
  • Edited by Sam B. Davis.
Montgomery The Alabama Guide 1884 ? Monthly newspaper
  • Published and edited by M.G. Thomas.
Montgomery Alabama Republican 1880 ? Weekly
  • Published and edited by Charles O. Harris.
Montgomery Alabama Tribune 1951 1964? Weekly
  • Published by E.G. Jackson.
Montgomery The Montgomery Argus 1890 ? Weekly
Montgomery The Colored Alabamian 1907 1916 Weekly
Montgomery The Colored Citizen 1884 1884 Weekly
  • Published by Brown Brothers.
Montgomery The Emancipator 1917 1920s Weekly
  • Edited by J. Edward McCall.
Montgomery The Montgomery Enterprise 1898 1900 Weekly
  • LCCN 2013254326, sn83025485
Montgomery The Evening Appeal 1886? ? Unknown
Montgomery The Evening Appeal 1880s ? Daily
  • Published by Allred Bros.
Montgomery The Helping Hand 1907? 1910s Weekly
  • Published by Jackson A. Stokes.
  • Attested through at least 1912.
Montgomery The Herald 1886 1887 Weekly
  • Published by Jesse C. Duke, who was driven from the state by a lynch mob after writing an anti-lynching editorial in The Herald in 1887.
Montgomery The Montgomery Mirror 1935? ? Weekly
Montgomery
  • Montgomery-Tuskegee Times: The Alternative
  • The Montgomery-Tuskegee Times
 1979 2000s Weekly
Montgomery The Odd Fellows Journal 1885 ? Monthly newspaper
  • Attested through at least October 1886.
Montgomery The Republican Sentinel 1872? ? Weekly
Montgomery The Southern Courier 1965 1968 Weekly
  • Moved from Atlanta to Montgomery in September 1965.
Montgomery The Montgomery Times 1977 1979 Weekly
Montgomery Voice of Action 1970 ? Weekly
Montgomery
  • Watchman
  • Negro Watchman (1874)
 1873 1874
  • Edited by Philip Joseph, with William H. Councill and A.E. Williams as associate editors.
Montgomery The Weekly Citizen 1884 ? Weekly
  • Numerous editors and publishers.
Montgomery The Weekly News 1884 ? Weekly
  • Published by C.M. Brown, noted for his advocacy of black self-defense.
Montgomery Montgomery Weekly Review 1936? ? Weekly
  • Edited by William P. Smith.
Opelika The People's Choice 1894 ? Weekly
  • Edited by John P. Lawrence.
  • Circulation of 300.
Patton Junction The Patton Pointer 1897 or 1898 1904 Weekly
  • Edited by J.T. Nall.
Selma The Baptist Pioneer 1878 or 1879? 1886 Weekly or monthly
  • Published by the Alabama Baptist Normal and Theological School.
  • Edited by W.H. McAlpine.
Selma The Selma Cyclone 1886 1890s Weekly
  • Edited by William J. Stevens from 1886 to 1887 and by John Mitchell Gee from 1887 to 1890.
  • Known for its conciliatory political stance.
Selma Dallas Post 1884 1884
  • Edited by W.H. Mixon.
  • "[T]he first secular Negro news journal ever published in Dallas County."
Selma
  • The Independent
  • Southern Independent
 1800s ? Weekly
  • Edited by Mansfield Bryant from 1886 to 1889.
  • Absorbed Selma Social Circle and Gospel Messenger in 1888.
Selma Selma Record 1900 ? Weekly
  • Attested through at least 1902.
Selma Selma Sentinel 1965 ? Weekly
  • LCCN sn85044634, sn85044636
Selma Southern Christian Age 1898 ? Weekly
  • Edited by W.H. Mixon.
  • Attested through at least 1901.
Selma Southern Christian Recorder 1888 1891
  • Newspaper of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Edited by Mansfield Bryant.
  • Moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1891 after Bryant was arrested for his outspoken writing and his life was threatened by a lynch mob.
Slocomb Ardis Times 1909 1911 Weekly
Talladega Reporter and Watchtower 1873 1886? Weekly
  • Published by T.J. Cross and M.H. Cruikshank.
Talladega The Southern Sentinel 1877 1881? or 1886 Monthly during school year
  • Edited by Edward P. Lord from 1877 to 1879, and George N. Ellis from 1879 to 1881.
Tunnell Springs Eagle 1888 1913
Tuscaloosa
  • Alabama Citizen
  • The Alabama Citizen and the Tuscaloosa Weekly Review
 1944? or 1947 1947 or 1963 Weekly
  • Published by James R. Greene.
  • Published in Mobile from October 1961 to September 1963.
Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Courier 1979? ? Monthly newspaper
  • Published by Charles Steele Jr.
Tuscaloosa Tuskaloosa Chronicle 1896 ? Weekly
Tuscumbia The American Star 1901 1929? Monthly
  • "[T]he leading black paper in northwest Alabama."
  • Edited by G.W. Trenholm.
Tuskegee The Alabama Headlight 1900 1902? Semimonthly
  • Published by Alabama Headlight.
Tuskegee The Tuskegee Herald 1950 1958 Monthly newspaper
  • Published by Hal Fisher. Edited by Mrs. E.M. Washington.
Tuskegee The Messenger 1905 1900s Weekly
Tuskegee The Negro Farmer 1940 ? Monthly newspaper
Tuskegee The Tuskegee Progressive 1970? 1971 Weekly
  • Published by Joseph Ervin Morse.
Tuskegee The Tuskegee Times 1974 1976 Weekly
Tuskegee The Tuskegee Voice 1976 1977 Weekly
  • Published by J. Lowell Ware and edited by Rick Dunn.
Tuskegee The Zion Church Worker: The Home Newspaper 1900 ? Monthly newspaper
Union Springs The Union Springs Enterprise 1895 ? Weekly
  • Edited by B.F. Rollins, then by R.T. Timothy in September–October 1896.
Uniontown
  • The Negro Leader
  • The Uniontown News
 1900 1917 Weekly
  • LCCN 87050364, sn87050363, sn87050364
  • Official organ of the Black Belt Farmers Conference.
Wetumpka Observer 1910 1912 Weekly
Yantley Racial Endeavors 1906 1907 Weekly

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List of African American newspapers in Alabama Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.