List of African American newspapers in Illinois facts for kids
This is a list of African American newspapers in Illinois. To be included, a newspaper should be attested in a reliable source as an African American newspaper published in Illinois. The list is divided by region, and the newspapers attested in each region are placed in alphabetic order by city.
Illinois' first African American newspaper was the Cairo Weekly Gazette, established in 1862. The first in Chicago was The Chicago Conservator, established in 1878. An estimated 190 Black newspapers had been founded in Illinois by 1975, and more have continued to be established in the decades since.
While most such newspapers in Illinois have been local, some like the Chicago-based Chicago Defender and Muhammad Speaks have had a major national circulation and impact. National Black newspaper networks, including the Defender syndicate and Associated Negro Press, have also been headquartered in Chicago.
Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois covers the northern third of Illinois, and is by far the most populous of Illinois' regions. Most of population is concentrated in the Chicago metropolitan area, and most of the region's African American newspapers have likewise been concentrated in and near Chicago.
City | Title | Beginning | End | Frequency | Call numbers | Remarks |
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Chicago | Abbott's Weekly & Illustrated News | 1933 | 1934 | Weekly |
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Chicago | Advance | 1890 | 1900 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | The Chicago Advocate | 1905 (uncertain) | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | African-American Voice / The Voice of the Black Community | 1994 (uncertain) | ? | Biweekly | ||
Chicago | All About Us | 1896 | 1899 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | All Chicago Focus | 1990 (uncertain) | 1991 | Twice monthly | ||
Chicago | A.M.E. Record | 1895 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Appeal | 1885 | 1926 or 1923 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Aspect | 1908 | 1908 | Weekly | ||
Chicago (Austin) | The Austin Voice | 1986 | ? | Biweekly |
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Chicago (Austin) | The Austin Weekly News | 1987 | current | Weekly |
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Chicago | The Chicago Bee and Sunday Bee | 1925 | 1947 | Weekly |
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Chicago | Bee-Free Speech | 1888 | 1895 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Black Truth | 1968 | 1971 (or later) or 1970 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Black X-Press | 1973 | 1970s | Weekly |
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Chicago | The Broad Ax | 1895 | 1935 | Weekly |
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Chicago | Brotherhood | 1890 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Bronzeville | 1943 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Bulletin | 1958 | 1972 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Busy Bee | 1896 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago (Chatham) | Chatham-Southeast Citizen / Chatham Citizen | 1965 | current | Weekly |
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Chicago | The Chicago Courier | 1938 | Weekly |
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Chicago | Chicago Defender | 1905 | current | Weekly; daily from 1956 to 2008 |
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Chicago | Christian Gibraltar | 1910 | 1970 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Christian Science | 1895 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Chronicle | 1918 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Church Organ | 1893 | 1898 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Church Record | 1895 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Citizen | 1965 | Weekly | |||
Chicago | Clipper | 1885 | 1898 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Conservator | 1878 | 1914 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Courier | 1932 | 1932 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Crusader | 1937 | ? | Weekly |
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Chicago | New Crusader / The Chicago Crusader | 1940 | current | Weekly |
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Chicago | Daily Times | ? | ? | Daily | ||
Chicago | Dynamite | 1936 or 1937 | 1939 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Eagle | 1889 | 1930 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | East Side Monitor | ? | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Egyptian Sun | ? | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Enterprise | 1918 | 1931 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Evening World | 1919 | 1919 | Daily | ||
Chicago | Fellowship Herald | 1916 | 1916 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | The Final Call | 1979 | current | Twice monthly |
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Chicago | Free Lance | 1895 | 1926 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Free Speech | 1888 | 1898 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Chicago Gazette | 1880s? | 1890s? |
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Chicago | The Chicago Gazette | 1949 or 1950 | current | Weekly | ||
Chicago |
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1950? | Weekly |
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Chicago | Hero | 1889 | 1891 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Home Journal | ? | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Home News | 1925 | 1925 | Weekly | ||
Chicago (Hyde Park) | Hyde Park Citizen | 1988 (uncertain) | current | Weekly |
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Chicago | Idea | 1900 | 1918 | Weekly |
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Chicago | Illinois Chronicle | 1900 | 1921 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Illinois Idea / The Chicago Illinois Idea / The Chicago Idea | 1903 | 1922 | Weekly |
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Chicago | Illinois Political News | 1939 (uncertain) | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Chicago Independent Bulletin | 1972 (uncertain) | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Inquirer | 1926 | 1926 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Chicago Journal | 1975 (uncertain) | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago (Lawndale) | Lawndale Drum | 1970 or 1972 | 1979 (uncertain) | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Leader | 1905 | 1906 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Messenger | 1942 | 1944 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Chicago Metro News (1972–1991) / Chicago-South Suburban News (1968–1972) / South Suburban News (–1968) | 1965 | 1991 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Metropolitan News (to 1938) / Metropolitan Post (to 1940) | 1935 | 1940 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Mission Star | 1890 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago / Moline | Modern Farmer | 1930 | 1932 | Monthly newspaper |
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Chicago | Monitor | 1914 | 1915 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Muhammad Speaks | 1961 | 1975 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | National Aspect | 1910 | 1912 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Negro Champion | 1925 | 1929 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | The Negro Spearhead | 1968 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | New Metro News | 1992 (uncertain) | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago (South Side) | News Clarion / South Side News-Clarion | 1964 | ? | Weekly |
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Chicago | News Ledger | 1938 | 1941 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | News Scene | 1984 (uncertain) | Twice monthly | |||
Chicago | Observer | 1885 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | The Chicago Observer | 1964 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | The Owl | 1962 | 1960s | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Pathfinder | ? | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | People's Advocate | 1900 | 1926 | Weekly |
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Chicago | People's Voice | 1918 | 1918 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Plain Dealer | 1888 | 1922 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | The Chicago Reflector | 1895 or 1896 | 1906 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Republican | 1888 | 1889 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Review | 1929 | 1932 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Royal Messenger | 1921 | 1932 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Savoyager | 1929 | 1932 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Chicago Scene | 1984 (uncertain) | 1993 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Search Light or Searchlight | 1910 | 1932 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | The Chicago Shoreland News / Chicago Shoreland | 1977 (uncertain) | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Smith's Arrow Weekly | ? | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | South End Citizen | 1965 (uncertain) | current | Weekly |
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Chicago | The South Shopper | 1995 | ? | Monthly newspaper | ||
Chicago | South Side Bulletin: Chicago’s Progressive Community Weekly / Bulletin | 1959 (uncertain) | 1972 | Weekly |
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Chicago (South Side) | South Street Journal | 1994 (uncertain) | 2010s | Biweekly | ||
Chicago | South Suburban Citizen | 1982 (uncertain) | current | Weekly |
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Chicago | Southside Digest | 1931 | 1931 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Spokesman | 1932 | 1932 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Standard | 1894 | 1895 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Star | 1910 | 1946 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Sun | 1924 | 1924 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Supreme Liberty Guardian | ? | 1938 | Weekly or twice monthly | ||
Chicago | Today’s Chronicle | 1992 or 1996 | Biweekly | |||
Chicago | Voice | 1910 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | The Voice / Second Ward Voice / The First District Voice (1942) | 1940 | ? | Weekly |
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Chicago | Wednesday's Focus | 1990 | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Chicago Weekend | 1974 (uncertain) | Weekly |
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Chicago | Weekly Reporter | 1906 | 1906 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | West Side Torch | 1969 | 1969 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | Western Opinion | 1906 | 1909 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | The Chicago Whip | 1919 | 1939 | Weekly | ||
Chicago (West Side) | West Side Torch: The People's Paper | 1965 (uncertain) | 1971 (uncertain) | Biweekly |
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Chicago or Chicago Heights | Tri-City Journal | 1978 | Weekly | |||
Chicago | The Windy City Word | 1992 (uncertain) | ? | Weekly | ||
Chicago (Woodlawn) | Woodlawn Booster / Woodlawn Booster and Bulletin | 1932 | 1973 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | The Chicago World | 1900 | 1902 | Weekly | ||
Chicago | The Chicago World | 1918 | 1953 | Weekly |
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Chicago Heights | Chicago Standard News | 1984 | current | Weekly | ||
East Moline | The Common Bond | 1975 | ? | Monthly newspaper | ||
Evanston | Evanston Guide | 1929 | 1932 | Weekly | ||
Evanston | Evanston Newsette | 1941 | ? | Weekly | ||
Evanston | Evanston Weekly | 1915 | 1931 | Weekly | ||
Evanston | North Shore Examiner | 1968 or 1971 | 1979 | Weekly, later monthly or bimonthly | ||
Harvey | Chicago South Suburban News | 1964 or 1966 | 1972 | Weekly | ||
Harvey | Suburban Journal | 1968 | Weekly | |||
Hopkins Park (Pembroke Township) | Pembroke Herald Eagle | 1961 or 1962 | 1983 | Weekly |
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Joliet | Voice or Negro Voice (1966) | 1950 | ? | Weekly | ||
Kankakee | Progressive Era | 1924 | 1942 | Weekly | ||
Maywood | Suburban Echo-Reporter | 1964 | ? | Weekly | ||
Robbins | Herald | 1917 | 1950 | Weekly |
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Robbins | Informer | 1947 or 1948 | 1949 | Weekly | ||
Rockford | Crusader | 1950 | 1972 | Weekly | ||
Rockford | Vital Force | 1985 | 2000s | Weekly |
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Rock Island | Tri City Oracle | 1898 | 1900 | Weekly | ||
South Holland | South Suburban Journal | 1975 (uncertain) | ? | Weekly | ||
Waukegan | North Shore Guardian | 1964 | ? | Weekly |
Central Illinois
Central Illinois is the middle third of the state. It includes the state capital Springfield and many other small cities such as Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Danville, Decatur, Galesburg and Peoria.
City | Title | Beginning | End | Frequency | Call numbers | Remarks |
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Bloomington | American Pilot | 1896 | 1899 | Weekly |
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Bloomington | Cooperative News | 1933 | 1938 | Weekly | ||
Champaign | Illinois Times | 1941 | 1971 | Weekly |
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Champaign | Plain Truth | 1967 | 1969 | Weekly |
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Danville | The Black Vanguard: for Unity in the Black Community | 1968 | ? | Weekly or irregular | ||
Danville | Illinois Times | 1939 | 1941 | Weekly |
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Danville | International | 1901 | 1902 | Weekly | ||
Danville | Inter-State Echo | 1909 | 1920 | Weekly | ||
Decatur | Advance Citizen | 1892 | 1932 | Weekly | ||
Decatur | The Voice / African-American Voice / Voice of the Black Community | 1967 | ? | Weekly |
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Galesburg | Western Herald | 1884 | 1885 | Weekly | ||
Galesburg | The Illinois Star | 1935 | 1941? | Weekly |
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Litchfield | Afro-American Advocate | 1892 | 1893 | Weekly |
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Peoria | Advance Citizen | 1892 | 1932 | Weekly | ||
Peoria | Black Rapper | 1968 | 1970 | Weekly | ||
Peoria | Bronze Informer | 1945 | 1946 | Weekly | ||
Peoria | Bronze Peoria Herald | 1964 | 1968 | Weekly | ||
Peoria | Forum | 1906 | 1915 | Weekly | ||
Peoria | Informer | 1934 | 1939 | Weekly | ||
Peoria | Peoria Whirlwind | 1962 | 1970s | Weekly | ||
Peoria | Spectator | 1955 | 1955 | Weekly | ||
Peoria | Traveler Weekly | 1968 | 1970s | Weekly | ||
Peoria | Weekly Enterprise | 1952 | 1952 | Weekly | ||
Quincy | Advocate | 1906 | ? | Weekly | ||
Quincy | Illinois Informer | 1919 (uncertain) | 1926 | Weekly | ||
Quincy | Illinois Progress | 1892 | 1900 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Advance Citizen | 1892 | 1932 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Argus | 1913 | 1915 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Capital City Courier | 2005 or 2006 | current | Monthly newspaper |
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Springfield | Capitol City News | 1942 | 1951 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Chronicle | 1917 | 1917 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Community Echo | 1950s | ? |
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Springfield | Eye | 1890 | 1893 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Forum | 1904 | 1927 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Illinois Chronicle | 1912 or 1917 | 1969 | Weekly or twice-monthly |
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Springfield | Illinois Conservator / Conservator-Globe | 1902 or 1905 | 1950 or after 1956 | Weekly or twice monthly |
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Springfield | Illinois Record | 1897 | 1899 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Illinois State Informer | 1935 | ? | Weekly |
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Springfield | Illinois State Messenger | 1897 | 1900 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Leader | 1902 | 1918 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Messenger | 1888 | 1889 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | National Standard Enterprise | 1894 | 1903 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Negro Democrat | 1934 | 1936 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | PURE NEWS USA | 1983 | current | Monthly newspaper |
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Springfield | Spirit of Black Springfield | 1968 | 1968 | Weekly | ||
Springfield | Springfield's Voice | 1973 | current | Weekly |
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Springfield | The State Capital | 1886 | 1915 or 1910 | Weekly |
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Springfield | Voice of the Black Community | 1972 or 1973 | 2000 | Weekly |
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Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois or "Little Egypt" is the southern third of Illinois, and is the state's least populous region. Much of the population is concentrated in Metro East, a five-county region across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. The state's first African American newspaper was established in Southern Illinois' southernmost town, Cairo, in 1862.
City | Title | Beginning | End | Frequency | Call numbers | Remarks |
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Alton | Advance Citizen | 1892 | 1932 | Weekly |
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Brooklyn | Monitor | 1886 | 19th century | Weekly | ||
Cairo | American | 1905 | 1906 | Weekly | ||
Cairo | Baptist Truth | 1894 | 1924 | Weekly | ||
Cairo | Illinois Messenger | 1925 | 1933 | Weekly | ||
Cairo | Cairo News / United Front News | 1971 (uncertain) | ? | Weekly |
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Cairo | Sentinel | 1890 | 1895 | Weekly | ||
Cairo | Three States | 1881 | 1883 | Weekly | ||
Cairo | Weekly Gazette | 1862 | 1890 | Weekly / Daily (1882) |
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East St. Louis | Advance Citizen | 1892 | 1932 | Weekly | ||
East St. Louis | Beacon | 1960s | ? | Weekly | ||
East St. Louis | The Crusader | 1941 or 1943 | ? | Weekly |
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East St. Louis | East Side Monitor | 1970 | 1970s | Weekly | ||
East St. Louis | Empire Weekly News | 1960s | 1970s | Weekly | ||
East St. Louis | Forum | 1928 | 1929 | Weekly | ||
East St. Louis | Monitor | 1962 or 1963 | current | Weekly |
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East St. Louis | Negro Democrat / Spotlight | 1933 | ? | Weekly |
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East St. Louis | Sentinel | 1904 | 1909 | Weekly | ||
East St. Louis | Southern Illinois Press | 1922 | 1924 | Weekly | ||
East St. Louis | Tri State Tribune | ? | ? | Weekly | ||
Metropolis | Christian Anchor | ? | ? | Weekly; monthly in 1912 |
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Metropolis | The Metropolis Gazette / Metropolis Weekly Gazette | 1897 or 1898 | 1938 | Weekly | ||
Mound City | Egyptian Sun | 1924 | 1940 | Weekly | ||
Mound City | Star | 1908 | 1925 | Weekly |