List of African American newspapers in Pennsylvania facts for kids
This article is about African American newspapers that have been published in Pennsylvania. These newspapers have played a very important role in sharing news and ideas within the African American community. They helped people stay informed and connected, especially during times when mainstream newspapers might not have covered their stories fairly or at all.
Pennsylvania has a rich history of African American newspapers. In the 1800s, it had almost as many of these papers as New York. The very first African American newspaper in Pennsylvania was The Mystery. It was published in Pittsburgh by a famous writer and activist named Martin Robison Delany. This newspaper ran from 1843 to 1847.
Even today, Pennsylvania is home to many active African American newspapers. One of the most famous is the Philadelphia Tribune, which is the oldest continuously published African American newspaper in the entire United States! Other important newspapers still being published include the New Pittsburgh Courier and the Philadelphia Sunday Sun.
Contents
The Importance of African American Newspapers
African American newspapers were, and still are, super important. They gave a voice to communities that were often ignored or misrepresented by other news outlets. These papers covered local news, celebrated achievements, and discussed important issues like civil rights and equality. They helped to build strong communities and spread messages of hope and progress.
Early Newspapers in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was a key state for early African American newspapers. Many people who wanted to fight for freedom and equality used newspapers to share their messages.
- The Mystery: As mentioned, this was the first. It was a weekly paper published in Pittsburgh by Martin Robison Delany. He was a very important leader and writer.
- The Christian Recorder: This newspaper was published in Philadelphia starting in 1861. It was connected to the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It became a very important paper, sharing news and religious messages for many years.
Notable Newspapers Through History
Over the years, many other important African American newspapers have been published across Pennsylvania. They covered different cities and different times, each playing a part in their communities.
- The Philadelphia Afro-American: Published in Philadelphia, this paper ran from 1934 to 1965. It was a weekly newspaper that reached many readers.
- The Philadelphia Independent: Another significant paper from Philadelphia, it was published weekly from 1931 to 1971. It had a large number of readers in the city.
- The Pittsburgh Courier: This newspaper, now known as the New Pittsburgh Courier, started in 1910. It became one of the most widely circulated African American newspapers in the country, especially in the mid-20th century. It covered national and international news from an African American perspective.
Modern African American Newspapers
Today, several African American newspapers continue to serve their communities in Pennsylvania. They keep the tradition alive by providing news and information that matters to their readers.
- The Philadelphia Tribune: This newspaper, launched in 1884, is still going strong! It's published twice a week and is famous for being the oldest continuously published African American newspaper in the U.S.
- New Pittsburgh Courier: This paper, which started as the Pittsburgh Courier, continues to be a weekly newspaper in Pittsburgh. It's a key source of news for the community.
- Philadelphia Sunday Sun: Launched in 1992, this weekly newspaper serves the Philadelphia area.
- Scoop USA: This free weekly newspaper has been published in Philadelphia since 1960. It was founded by Richard Driver and continues to be an important local voice.
- Philadelphia New Observer: Also known as the Philadelphia Observer, this weekly paper started in 1976 and is still being published today.
See also
- List of African American newspapers and media outlets
- List of African American newspapers in Delaware
- List of African American newspapers in Maryland
- List of African American newspapers in New Jersey
- List of African American newspapers in New York
- List of African American newspapers in Ohio
- List of newspapers in Pennsylvania
