List of African American newspapers in Florida facts for kids
Newspapers are super important! They tell us what's happening in the world and in our communities. For a long time, many newspapers didn't share the stories and voices of Black Americans. That's why Black American newspapers became so important. They gave Black communities a place to share their news, ideas, and concerns.
In Florida, the first known Black American journalists were John T. Shuften and John Wallace. They worked for newspapers that were mostly run by white people. But the very first newspaper made by and for Black Americans in Florida was The New Era. A man named Josiah T. Walls bought it in 1873.
Early Black Newspapers in Florida
The first Black newspapers in Florida helped share important news. They also gave a voice to people who were often ignored. These papers were a big part of building communities.
The New Era: A Fresh Start
The New Era in Gainesville was a very early and important paper. It started in 1865. Then, in 1873, Josiah T. Walls bought it. This made it the first newspaper in Florida owned and run by Black Americans. It was published every week.
Newspapers in Eatonville
Eatonville had some early Black newspapers too. The Eatonville Ledger started in 1886. It was edited by Reverend Speight. Later, the Eatonville Speaker began in 1889. It was managed by J.E. Clark. Interestingly, its editor, Arthur C. Everett, was the only white person living in Eatonville at the time.
Jacksonville's Busy Newspaper Scene
Jacksonville was a hub for Black newspapers. Many different papers started there.
- The People's Journal began in 1883. It was one of the few Black newspapers in Jacksonville to survive the yellow fever outbreak in 1888.
- The Florida Sentinel started in 1887. It was published by Matthew M. Lewey. This paper later joined with another to become the Florida Sentinel Bulletin in 1919.
- The Florida Standard was another paper in Jacksonville, running from 1906 to 1917. It had a large number of readers, with 17,000 copies printed in 1910.
Important Newspapers Across Florida
Many other cities in Florida also had their own Black newspapers. These papers covered local news and issues important to their communities.
Miami's Long-Running Voice
The Miami Times is a very important newspaper in Miami. It started way back in 1923. It was the first Black American newspaper in Miami. It's still being published today! H.E.S. Reeves founded this weekly paper.
Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale
In Daytona Beach, the Daytona Times started in 1976 or 1978. It's a weekly paper and is still published today. Fort Lauderdale is home to The Westside Gazette. This paper started in 1971 and is also still being published.
Fort Pierce and Zora Neale Hurston
The Chronicle in Fort Pierce was published from 1957 to 1992. It's special because the famous writer Zora Neale Hurston wrote columns and reported for it between 1957 and 1959.
Pensacola and St. Petersburg
In Pensacola, The Colored Citizen was published for many years, from 1910 or 1913 until 1965. It was founded and edited by F.E. Washington. In St. Petersburg, The Weekly Challenger started in 1966 and is still published today.
Tallahassee's Capital Outlook
Tallahassee has the Capital Outlook. It started in 1975 and is still a weekly newspaper today. Sharon Woodson publishes it.
Tampa's Sentinel Bulletin
The Florida Sentinel Bulletin in Tampa is a very well-known paper. It began in 1959 and is still published twice a week. It's a combination of earlier papers like the Florida Sentinel and the Tampa Bulletin.
See also
