“We Wish to Plead Our Own Cause. Too Long Have Others Spoken For Us”

The Black Press has been one of the most influential yet underappreciated institutions in American history. Since the publication of Freedom’s Journal in 1827, Black newspapers have provided a platform for African Americans to tell their own stories, challenge racist narratives, and mobilize communities. When mainstream outlets ignored or distorted events affecting Black lives, the Black Press stepped in to document reality. Its historical significance lies not only in advocacy but in its ability to break stories that forced the nation to confront uncomfortable truths.

When I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I read the mainstream paper, The Minneapolis Star & Tribune, every day. I started with the comics and sports section, but eventually read the paper cover to cover. Black news I got from reading Jet and Ebony Magazines at Crown Barbershop, and the Minneapolis Spokesman, which came weekly to my grandmother’s house. Much of Jet and Ebony’s focus was on celebrities and sports, but when important news needed to be covered, they were there, as when Jet published graphic photos of Emmett Till. The Spokesman gave me local and national news that the Star & Tribune never covered.