List of African American newspapers in South Carolina facts for kids

The very first issue of the South Carolina Leader newspaper from October 1865.

This article is about African American newspapers that were published in South Carolina. These newspapers were very important because they gave a voice to African American communities. They shared news, opinions, and stories that were often ignored by other newspapers. Over 130 such newspapers were printed in South Carolina between 1865 and 1970. The first one was the South Carolina Leader, which started in Charleston in 1865. In the early years, it was hard for these newspapers to grow because many African Americans in South Carolina lived in poverty in the countryside.

Important African American Newspapers in South Carolina

African American newspapers played a huge role in sharing information and helping communities grow. Here are some of the key newspapers from different cities in South Carolina:

Newspapers from Abbeville

• Journal of Enterprise
  • Published in Abbeville in the 1800s.
  • Founded by S.H. Jefferson.
  • This was the only African American newspaper in upper South Carolina during the 1880s.

Newspapers from Anderson

• The Herald
  • Published in Anderson.
  • It started in 1957 and stopped in the 1970s.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.

Newspapers from Beaufort

• The New South
  • Published in Beaufort.
  • It ran from 1879 or 1880s to the 1890s.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Sea Island News
  • Published in Beaufort.
  • It was active from 1879 to 1888.
  • This was also a weekly newspaper.
• Standard (also known as Beaufort Southern Standard)
  • Published in Beaufort in the 1870s.
  • It was edited by Robert Smalls, a famous African American politician.
  • This newspaper was the official paper for the Beaufort County government.
• Beaufort County Times (also known as Barnwell County Times)
  • Published in Beaufort and later in Blackville.
  • It started in 1871 and stopped in the 1870s.
  • Edited by D. Thomas.
  • It moved to Barnwell County when its publisher, William S. Whipple, became the county treasurer there.

Newspapers from Bennettsville

• The Carolina Messenger
  • Published in Bennettsville.
  • It ran from 1974 to 1978.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• Community Observer
  • Published in Bennettsville.
  • It was active from 1978 to 1981.
  • This was a weekly newspaper.
• Pee Dee Educator
  • Published in Bennettsville.
  • It started around 1879 or 1890 and stopped around 1900 or 1906.
  • It was published twice a month.

Newspapers from Charleston

• The Charleston Advocate
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It ran from 1867 to 1868.
  • It was a weekly newspaper published by H.J. Moore.
  • You can find old issues online here.
• The Afro-American Citizen
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It was active from 1899 to 1900 or 1902.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
  • You can find old issues online here.
• The Charleston Chronicle (also known as The Chronicle)
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It started in 1971 and stopped in 2021.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
  • Published and edited by J. John French.
• The Coastal Times
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It started in 1983 and was a weekly newspaper.
• Charleston Free Press
  • Published in Charleston in 1871.
  • It was a daily newspaper.
• The Free Press
  • Published in Charleston in 1868.
  • It was a weekly newspaper published by T. Hurley.
  • You can find old issues online here.
• The Charleston Herald
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It ran from 1952 to 1955.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Charleston Inquirer
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It was active from 1963 to 1964.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Charleston Journal
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It started in 1866 and stopped in the 1860s.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• Lighthouse and Informer
  • Published in Charleston and later in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1941 to 1954.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
  • This newspaper was very important for the early civil rights movement, speaking out against unfairness.
• The Charleston Lighthouse
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It was active from 1939 to 1941.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Charleston Messenger
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It ran from 1894 to 1946.
  • It was a newspaper published every two months.
  • It was published by Daniel Jenkins and was connected to an orphanage he ran.
• Missionary Record
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It ran from 1868 to 1879.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
  • This newspaper took over from the South Carolina Leader.
  • It was edited by Richard Harvey Cain, a minister and politician.
  • You can find old issues online here.
• The New Citizen
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It was active from 1948 to 1952.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Palmetto Press
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It ran from 1882 to 1885.
  • It was a weekly newspaper edited by R.L. Smith.
• South Carolina Leader
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It started in 1865 and stopped around 1867 or 1868.
  • It was a weekly newspaper published by T. Hurley and Co.
  • You can find old issues online here.
• Southern Reporter
  • Published in Charleston.
  • It ran from 1900 to 1920.

Newspapers from Columbia

• Black News (and other titles like Black Star, Black Sun, Black Times, Black Views, Black Voice)
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It started in 1970 or 1977 and is still being published today!
  • It is a weekly newspaper published by Isaac Washington.
  • You can visit its official website: https://scblacknews.com/.
• Black On News
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1972 to 1977.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• Black On To The Bone
  • Published in Columbia in 1973.
  • It was a monthly newspaper.
• Carolina Afro-weekly
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1969 to 1974.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• Carolina Panorama (also known as Piedmont Post)
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It started in 1978 and is still being published today!
  • It is a weekly newspaper.
  • You can visit its official website: https://www.carolinapanorama.com/.
• The Carolina Tribune
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It started in the 1900s and was a weekly newspaper.
• The Christian Soldier
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1898 to 1900.
  • It was a monthly newspaper.
• Columbia's Black News
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It started in 1984 and was a weekly newspaper.
• The Columbia Dispatch
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It started in the 1950s and was a weekly newspaper.
• South Carolina Independent
  • Published in Columbia in 1955.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Light
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1916 to 1928.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Lighthouse
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It was active from 1963 to 1964.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The South Carolina Observer
  • Published in Columbia in 1960.
• Palmetto Gleaner
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1890 to 1892.
  • This was the first African American newspaper in Columbia.
• The Palmetto Leader
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1925 to the 1960s.
  • It was a weekly newspaper published by George H. Hampton.
  • This newspaper was very important for the early civil rights movement.
  • You can find old issues online here.
• The Palmetto Post (two different newspapers with this name)
  • The first one was published in Columbia from 1970 to 1971. It was a weekly newspaper.
  • The second one started in 1984 and was also a weekly newspaper.
• Palmetto Times
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1962 to 1964.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The People's Recorder
  • Published in Columbia and later in Orangeburg.
  • It ran from 1893 to 1925 or 1905.
  • It was a weekly newspaper published by Nix and Holmes.
  • You can find old issues online here.
• The Recorder-Indicator
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1925 to 1931.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• SouthCarolinian
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It started in 1987 and was a monthly newspaper.
• The Southern Indicator
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1913 or 1903 to 1924 or 1925.
  • It was a weekly newspaper edited by J.A. Roach.
  • You can find old issues online here.
• The Southern Sun
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1902 to 1909.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Standard
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1919 to 1927.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• Venture
  • Published in Columbia.
  • It ran from 1978 to 1979.
  • It was a monthly newspaper.

Newspapers from Florence

• The Community Times (also known as The Times)
  • Published in Florence.
  • It started in 1997 or 1992 and is a weekly newspaper.
• Pee Dee Times
  • Published in Florence.
  • It ran from 1987 to 1992.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.

Newspapers from Georgetown

• Georgetown Advocate
  • Published in Georgetown.
  • It ran from 1902 to 1905.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Georgetown Planet
  • Published in Georgetown.
  • It ran from 1873 to 1875.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
  • It was edited by local politicians James A. Bawley and R.O. Rush.
  • You can find old issues online here.

Newspapers from Greenville

• The Carolina News And Guide
  • Published in Greenville.
  • It ran from 1963 to 1964.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• Focus
  • Published in Greenville.
  • It ran from 1973 to around 1980.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• Focus News
  • Published in Greenville.
  • It ran from 1976 to 1981.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• Lancet
  • Published in Greenville in 1890.
  • This was the first African American newspaper in Greenville.
• The Palmetto Leader
  • Published in Greenville.
  • It started in 1945 and was a weekly newspaper.
  • Published by Norman P. Pearson, Jr.
• Southern Crusader
  • Published in Greenville.
  • It ran from 1942 to the 1940s.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Southern Enterprise
  • Published in Greenville.
  • It started in 1914 and was a weekly newspaper.
• The Times Upstate
  • Published in Greenville.
  • It started in 1995 and is a weekly newspaper.

Newspapers from Kingstree

• The Williamsburg Republican
  • Published in Kingstree.
  • It started in 1873 and stopped in the 1870s.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.

Newspapers from Myrtle Beach

• The Weekly Journal
  • Published in Myrtle Beach.
  • It ran from 1975 to 1976.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Weekly Observer
  • Published in Myrtle Beach.
  • It ran from 1974 to 1977.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.

Newspapers from Orangeburg

• The Free Citizen
  • Published in Orangeburg.
  • It ran from 1874 to 1876.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
  • It was edited by E.A. Webster in 1874.
  • You can find old issues online here.
• Herald
  • Published in Orangeburg.
  • It ran from the 1960s to the 1970s.
  • It was edited by Davis Lee.
  • This newspaper was known for not supporting the civil rights movement.
• View South News
  • Published in Orangeburg.
  • It started in 1979 and was a weekly newspaper.

Newspapers from Rock Hill

• The Rock Hill Messenger
  • Published in Rock Hill.
  • It ran from 1896 to 1919 or 1921.
  • It was a weekly newspaper edited by C.P.T. White.
  • You can find old issues online here.

Newspapers from Society Hill

• The Society Hill News
  • Published in Society Hill.
  • It ran from 1910 to 1911.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.

Newspapers from Spartanburg

• Advance
  • Published in Spartanburg.
  • It ran from 1894 to 1897.
• Negro Index
  • Published in Spartanburg.
  • It ran from 1916 to 1922.

Newspapers from Sumter

• The Defender
  • Published in Sumter.
  • It ran from 1903 to 1913.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Peoples Informer
  • Published in Sumter.
  • It ran from 1936 to 1941.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• The Samaritan Herald (also known as The Samaritan Herald And The Voice Of Job)
  • Published in Sumter.
  • It ran from 1909 to 1950.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.
• Vindicator
  • Published in Sumter in 1882.
  • Published by Samuel J. Lee.

Newspapers from Timmonsville

• The Watchman And Defender
  • Published in Timmonsville.
  • It ran from 1920 to 1931.
  • It was a weekly newspaper.

Newspapers from Union

• The Union Standard
  • Published in Union.
  • It started in 1906 and was published twice a month.

Newspapers from Williamsburg County

• Republican
  • Published in Williamsburg County.
  • It ran from 1873 to the 1870s.
  • It was edited by Stephen Atkins Swails.
  • Sadly, no copies of this newspaper have survived.

See also

• List of African American newspapers and media outlets
• List of African American newspapers in Georgia
• List of African American newspapers in North Carolina
• List of newspapers in South Carolina