List of African American newspapers in Wisconsin facts for kids
This article is about African American newspapers that have been printed in Wisconsin. You'll learn about newspapers from a long time ago and ones that are still being published today. These newspapers were, and still are, very important for sharing news and stories within the African American community.
Before the year 1900, there were fewer than 1,000 African Americans living in Wisconsin. Because of this, the growth of African American newspapers in the state happened a bit later than in other places.
The first newspaper thought to be an African American paper in Wisconsin was the Wisconsin Afro-American. It was started in 1892 by George A. Brown and Thomas H. Jones. However, some people aren't sure if it truly counts as the first. If not, then the Wisconsin Weekly Advocate, which began in 1898, would be considered the first.
Interestingly, the very first newspaper published by an African American in Wisconsin came out even earlier. George Edwin Taylor started the Wisconsin Labor Advocate in 1886. This paper was for workers of all races and was published until 1887.
Today, some well-known African American newspapers in Wisconsin include The Madison Times, The Milwaukee Courier, The Milwaukee Times, and The Milwaukee Community Journal. These papers continue to serve their communities by providing important local news and perspectives.
Early Newspapers
When African American communities in Wisconsin were still small, it was harder to start and keep newspapers going. But brave people worked hard to create these important sources of information. They helped share news, ideas, and stories that were important to their communities.
One of the earliest papers, the Wisconsin Labor Advocate, was special because it aimed to support all workers, no matter their race. This showed a desire for unity and fairness from the very beginning.
Later, papers like The Wisconsin Weekly Blade in Madison became important. It was the first Black newspaper in that city. These early newspapers often faced challenges, but they played a huge role in keeping communities connected and informed.
Important Newspapers Today
Even with all the digital news we have, traditional newspapers are still very important. In Wisconsin, several African American newspapers continue to be published. They provide a voice for their communities and cover topics that might not get much attention in other news sources.
- The Madison Times
- The Milwaukee Courier
- The Milwaukee Times
- The Milwaukee Community Journal
These papers help keep people updated on local events, community leaders, and issues that matter most to African American residents across Wisconsin. They are a vital part of the state's media landscape.
List of Newspapers
Here is a list of African American newspapers that have been published in Wisconsin. Some are still active, while others are historical.
| City | Title | Beginning | End | Frequency | Call numbers | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beloit | Beloit Chronicle | 1981 | 1982 | Irregular | This paper was called "Beloit's only minority newspaper." It also served nearby Rockford, Illinois. Eugene Relerford was the publisher. | |
| Beloit | Soul City Courier | 1976 | ? | Biweekly | This paper was published until at least 1977. | |
| Gratiot | The Gratiot Reporter | 1903 | 1915 | Weekly | ||
| Green Bay | Green Bay Spectator | 1851 | 1852 | Weekly | ||
| La Crosse | Wisconsin Labor Advocate | 1886 | 1888 | Weekly | You can find a free online archive of this newspaper. | |
| Madison | Mid-West Observer | 1980 | 1980? | Monthly newspaper | Glenn E. Sturgis published this newspaper. | |
| Madison | The Madison Sun | 1966 | 1966 | Twice monthly | Lawrence Saunders published this paper. | |
| Madison | The Madison Times | 1990 | current | Weekly | This newspaper has an Official site: https://themadisontimes.themadent.com/. Betty Franklin Hammonds is the publisher and editor. | |
| Madison | Wisconsin Free Press | 1984 | ? | Twice monthly or biweekly | This paper was sold to The Milwaukee Times in 1990 and then became part of The Madison Times. | |
| Madison | The Wisconsin Weekly Blade | 1916 | 1925 or 1922 | Weekly | This was the first Black newspaper in Madison. Its founder, J. Anthony Josey, was honored after his death in 1998. You can find a free online archive of this newspaper. | |
| Milwaukee | The Beacon | 1953 | 1953 | Weekly | Lawrence Saunders published this paper. It later continued as The Rocket. | |
| Milwaukee / Beloit | Chronicle / Beloit Chronicle | 1981 | Irregular | |||
| Milwaukee | The Communicator News | 1984 | Weekly | |||
| Milwaukee | The Milwaukee Community Journal | 1975 | current | Twice weekly or weekly | This newspaper has an Official site: https://communityjournal.net/. Patricia O'Flynn Thomas publishes this paper. | |
| Milwaukee | The Milwaukee Community Journal: Daily City Edition | 1987 | 1989 | Daily (except weekends and holidays) | Patricia O'Flynn Thomas also published this daily edition. | |
| Milwaukee | Milwaukee Courier | 1964 | current | Weekly | This newspaper has an Official site: https://milwaukeecourieronline.com/. | |
| Milwaukee | The Milwaukee Defender | 1956 or 1957 | 1960 | Weekly | Mary Ellen Shadd published this paper. It was connected to the Chicago Defender. The paper was strongly criticized by Milwaukee's white business community for its bold reporting and was eventually forced to close. | |
| Milwaukee | The Milwaukee Gazette | 1960 | 1961 | Weekly | This paper called itself "A nonpartisan paper for all the people." LeRoy G. White published it. | |
| Milwaukee | The Milwaukee Globe | 1945 or 1948 | 1949 | Weekly | L. J. Saunders was the editor of this paper. | |
| Milwaukee | National Defender And Sun | 1905 | 1923 | Weekly | This paper moved to Gary, Indiana in the 1910s. | |
| Milwaukee | The Northwest 76er / MCJ Northwest 76er | 1989? or 1990 | ? | Weekly | Patricia O'Flynn Thomas published this paper. It was a smaller part of the Milwaukee Community Journal. | |
| Milwaukee | The Northwestern Recorder | 1892 | 1893 | Monthly newspaper, then weekly from August 1892 to January 1893 | This paper was later replaced by the Wisconsin Afro-American. | |
| Milwaukee | Racine Courier / Racine Star (1971–1972) / Racine Star News (1970–1971) / Racine Star Times (1972–1976) | 1970 or 1976 | 1992 | Monthly or weekly | This paper was published in Milwaukee but focused on the Racine-Kenosha area. It was part of the Racine Star Times, Inc. | |
| Milwaukee | The Rocket | 1953 | 1953 | Weekly | ||
| Milwaukee | The Milwaukee Sepian | 1951 | 1951 | Weekly | Hosea N. Doxey was the editor. | |
| Milwaukee | Soul City Times | 1968 | 1971 | Weekly | This paper joined with The Milwaukee Star. | |
| Milwaukee | The Milwaukee Star (1963–1968, 1976–2005) / Greater Milwaukee Star / Your Greater Milwaukee Star / Milwaukee Star-Times (1971–1976) |
1961 | 2005 | Weekly | The Star Times name in the 1970s was used after it took over the Soul City Times. | |
| Milwaukee | The Milwaukee Times | 1981 | current | Weekly | This newspaper has an Official site: https://milwaukeetimesnews.com/. | |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin Afro-American | 1892 | 1892 | Weekly | This paper reported a lot on the activities of William T. Green at the state Republican convention. Some people disagree if this was truly an African American newspaper. | |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin Enterprise-Blade / Wisconsin Weekly Blade (1916–1922) | 1916 | 1943? | Weekly | ||
| Milwaukee | The Wisconsin Weekly Advocate | 1898 | 1915 | Weekly | This paper was published until at least 1907. | |
| Racine | The Communicator News | 1984 | 2013? | Bimonthly newspaper | This newspaper has an Official site: http://www.racinecommunicator.com/. It served the communities of Racine, Kenosha, and the North Shore. | |
| Racine | The Racine Community Chronicle | 1989 | ? | Biweekly | ||
| Racine | The Racine Insider News | 1992 | Bimonthly newspaper | Kenneth Lumpkin published this paper. It was still being published in 1995. | ||
| Racine | Racine Star News | 1970 | 1971 | Weekly | ||
| Racine | Racine Star | 1971 | 1972 | Weekly | This was an extra section of the Greater Milwaukee Star that served the Racine-Kenosha area. |
See also
