List of African American newspapers in Colorado facts for kids
This article is about African American newspapers that have been published in the State of Colorado in the United States. It includes newspapers that are still being published today, as well as older ones that are no longer around.
Many of these older newspapers were published in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This was a time when the number of African Americans living in Colorado grew a lot, from just over 1,000 people in 1870 to more than 11,000 by 1910. Colorado's very first African American newspaper might have been the Denver Weekly Star, which started around 1881.
Today, some well-known African American newspapers in Colorado include the Denver Weekly News, the Denver Urban Spectrum, and the African-American Voice from Colorado Springs. These papers continue to share important news and stories for their communities.
Contents
Newspapers in Colorado
African American newspapers have played a very important role in Colorado's history. They helped share news, ideas, and opinions within the Black community when other newspapers might not have covered their stories. They also helped people connect and work together for important causes.
Newspapers from Colorado Springs
Many African American newspapers were published in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Here are a few examples:
- African American Voice: This newspaper started in 1991 and is still published today. It comes out once a month.
- Colorado Advance: This weekly paper was published between 1906 (or 1914) and 1917. It was edited by E.B. Butler.
- Colored Dispatch: This weekly newspaper was around from 1900 (or 1905) to 1913 (or 1906). Porter S. Simpson was its editor.
- Colorado Springs Sun: This weekly paper was published from 1897 to 1905. It was started because people felt there was a need for a newspaper where African Americans in the city could share their thoughts and show their progress.
Newspapers from Denver
Denver, Colorado was home to many African American newspapers over the years.
- The African Advocate: This weekly paper was published in 1890 and 1891. It was known for supporting the Back-to-Africa movement, which encouraged African Americans to move to Africa.
- Denver Weekly Star: This was one of the very first African American newspapers published west of the Mississippi River! It started around 1879 or 1881 and was founded by Lewis Price.
- The Denver Star (1913–1963): This important weekly newspaper was a continuation of an older paper called The Statesman. It was known as Franklin's Paper The Denver Star for a short time before becoming The Denver Star. It was published until 1963.
- The Colorado Statesman: This weekly paper was published from 1895 to 1961. It was founded by Joseph D.D. Rivers. It's important to know that this paper was different from another newspaper that was also called The Colorado Statesman but was for white readers.
- The Statesman / Franklin's Paper The Statesman: This newspaper started around 1885 and was published until 1912. It was first owned by Joseph D.D. Rivers. Later, Edwin Henry Hackley, who was Colorado's first Black attorney, took it over. It was renamed Franklin's Paper The Statesman in 1906 to avoid confusion with The Colorado Statesman.
- Denver Urban Spectrum: This is a monthly newspaper that started in 1987 and is still published today. It was founded by Rosalind J. Harris and focuses on news and information for and about people of color.
- Denver Weekly News: This weekly newspaper began in 1971 and is still being published.
Newspapers from Other Colorado Cities
African American newspapers were also published in other cities across Colorado:
- Megaphone (La Junta): This weekly paper was published in La Junta, Colorado from 1913 to 1915. It was founded by Thomas L. Cate.
- Rocky Mountain Advocate (Pueblo): This weekly newspaper was published in Pueblo, Colorado from 1898 to 1899. William Jeltz was its editor.
- The Western Ideal (Pueblo): This weekly paper was published in Pueblo from 1919 (or 1923) to 1960. It was known for supporting the 1940 Green Book, which was a guide for African American travelers during a time of segregation.
- Rising Sun (Pueblo): This weekly paper was published in Pueblo from 1919 to 1921 (or 1923). It was founded by Thomas L. Cate after he returned from serving in World War I.