"We wish to plead our cause. Too long have others spoken for us." This statement, written in 1827, was the lead sentence for an editorial in the first African American publication, Freedom's Journal, published in New York City. From that time until the present there have been more than 3,000 African American newspapers, magazines, and book presses. In recognition of this robust journalistic tradition, Denver Public Library has recently acquired the ProQuest Historical Black Newspapers collection.
From the first Black White House correspondent and the cultural explosion of the Harlem Renaissance, to exposure of, and arguments against, social injustice, these publications reveal history as it was made, by the people who experienced it.
With Black Historical Newspapers, you’ll have access to:
- More than a century of leading voices in the Black community. Study the progression of issues over time with newspapers that are an excellent record of fine points and facts that are overlooked elsewhere.
- Local perspectives from multiple voices. Search and browse local perspectives on regional, national, and international affairs, providing insight into views, people, and events where they happen, when they happen.
- Cover-to-cover searchable access. Beyond feature articles and breaking stories, users can find newspaper editorials, advertisements, cartoons, obituaries, birth records, marriage records, and classified ads that provide valuable information and contextual understanding into centuries of primary sources.
Examine major movements from the Harlem Renaissance to Civil Rights, and explore everyday life as written in newspapers such as:
- Chicago Defender
- The Baltimore Afro-American
- New York Amsterdam News
- Pittsburgh Courier
- Los Angeles Sentinel
- Atlanta Daily World
- The Norfolk Journal and Guide
- The Philadelphia Tribune
- Cleveland Call and Post
- Michigan Chronicle
Spark your curiosity with a look at:
- a 1927 editorial penned by Ida B. Wells-Barnett in the Chicago Defender, offering a searing indictment of the forced labor of Black flood victims in Mississippi.
- a 1962 Atlanta Daily World feature of a young Sidney Poitier on the cusp of his historic Academy Award win.
- a 1972 New York Amsterdam News interview with presidential aspirant Shirley Chisholm.
For assistance in searching the collection, please log in to our Ask Us! 24/7 chat service. We will be thrilled to help you navigate this historical treasure trove.
