Howard University Black Press Archives

Published in Tuskegee, Alabama, the Varick Christian Endeavorer served as the official voice of the AME Zion Church’s Varick Christian Endeavor Union. Edited by Rev. J. T. McMillan, the publication promoted youth leadership, Christian education, missionary work, and church news while connecting Black congregations across the country.

https://dh.howard.edu/vc_endeavorer_ss_headlight1911/

Newport News’ Star was pivotal in Virginia’s Black community. Civil rights, education, business, church news, and local achievements tended to be the star topics from The Star publication. In 1940, it merged with the Journal and Guide, extending its legacy across Tidewater Virginia.

https://dh.howard.edu/the_star1910/

The Temple Star was edited by Rev. P.W. White. The paper’s slogan “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” was a good fit for documenting church life, community news, and the ongoing pursuit of justice. Though only a few issues survive, its impact was sure to leave a mark on the 70% Black town of Georgiana.

https://dh.howard.edu/temple_star1916/

Founded by Ormond A. Forte, the Cleveland Advocate gave voice to Black Cleveland during World War I and the Great Migration. championing civil rights, spotlighting Black soldiers through Ralph W. Tyler’s groundbreaking war correspondence, important civil events in the Midwest, the paper documented a community in lockstep be it abroad or at home.

https://dh.howard.edu/cleveland_advocate1915/

Published in Houston beginning around 1920, The Odd Fellow Budget served as the voice of the Black Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, documenting lodge news, conventions, community milestones, and the mutual aid efforts that sustained African American communities during segregation. More than a fraternal newspaper, it preserved the stories of Black leadership, service, and everyday life often absent from the mainstream press.

https://dh.howard.edu/odd_fellowbudget1929/

On September 25, 1937, the Journal and Guide dedicated its front page to Congressman Arthur W. Mitchell; the first African American elected to Congress as a Democrat. Through candid photos and an in-depth profile, the Black press celebrated Mitchell’s fight for civil rights, New Deal equity, and effective representation, documenting a historic political milestone

The Weekly Pelican was a New Orleans-based African American newspaper that documented Black life, politics, and community affairs during the turbulent post-Reconstruction era. Though short-lived, it remains an important record of Black voices in Louisiana at a time when civil rights gains were under increasing attack.

https://dh.howard.edu/weekly_pelican1886/

The Mule’s Ear was the student literary publication of Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama. Active by at least the 1920s, it showcased student essays, commentary, poetry, and campus perspectives. In 1934, the Atlanta Daily World described it as “a mirror of student thought” addressing issues from campus life to national and international affairs, highlighting its role in fostering Black student journalism and literary expression.

https://dh.howard.edu/mules_ear1929/

Yesterday marked the 35th anniversary of Boyz n the Hood, John Singleton’s groundbreaking directorial debut that redefined Black cinema. More than a coming-of-age drama, the film brought the realities of South Central Los Angeles to mainstream audiences through an authentic Black lens, launching careers and proving that stories rooted in Black communities belonged at the center of American filmmaking. Black newspapers across the country documented its premiere, impact, and cultural significance, recognizing the film as an instant landmark that continues to shape Black media and storytelling 35 years later.