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List of African American newspapers in Rhode Island facts for kids

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

Relatively few African American newspapers have been published in Rhode Island. The first known such newspaper, and the only one published in the 19th century, was John Henry Ballou's Eastern Review (1879–1880). Rhode Island was thus the only state to show a net drop in African American newspapers between 1880 and 1890, namely from 1 to 0, as Irvine Garland Penn recorded in The Afro-American Press and Its Editors.

In addition to its African American newspapers, Rhode Island is the site of another important advancement in the history of the Black press: when John Carter Minkins became editor-in-chief of the Providence News-Democrat in 1906, he was the first African American to head a daily newspaper that catered to the white community. Upon leaving the News-Democrat in 1911, Minkins purchased the weekly Rhode Island Examiner, which under his leadership gave front-page coverage to issues affecting African Americans.

Newspapers

City Title Beginning End Frequency Call numbers Remarks
Providence The Advance 1906 ? Monthly newspaper
  • Suspended publication from June to December 1935.
Providence The Providence American 1986 current Biweekly or monthly
  • ISSN 1521-0197 1521-0197
  • LCCN sn92063968
  • Official site: http://www.theprovamnews.com
  • Founded by Frank Graham, and purchased by Peter Wells in 2006.
  • Became online-only in 2019.
Providence Providence Chronicle 1939 1957 Weekly
  • Published by William D. Wiley.
  • Circulation of 1,541 in 1951.
Providence The Citizen 1968 1970s Weekly
  • Published by John E. Singleton
Providence Eastern Review 1879 1880 Weekly
  • Edited by John Henry Ballou, Rhode Island's first African American attorney.
  • Weekly circulation of approximately 500.
  • Only African American newspaper published in Rhode Island through at least 1890.
Providence The Ebenezer Grapevine 1978 1980s Monthly newspaper
  • Followed by the Ocean State Grapevine.
  • Published by Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Providence New England Torch Light / New England Torchlight 1890s Weekly
  • Published by J.W. Henderson. Edited by Barney McKay.
Providence The North Star 1977 ? Monthly newspaper
Providence Ocean State Grapevine 1986 1980s Twice-monthly or biweekly
  • Billed as “Rhode Island’s only Black newspaper.”
  • Successor to the Ebenezer Grapevine, and published by Coach's Cultural Hour, Inc.
Providence The Sun 1890s Weekly

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